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Mon March 17, 2008

Homeschool championships a success

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Metro Academy's Taber Spani, right, hugs THESA Riders' Whitney Williams after Saturday's homeschool championship. Connecticut women's coach Gino Auriemma attended the game to watch Spani play. BY SARAH PHIPPS
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Even though his team wasn't playing for a title, Tim Flatt had a hectic day Saturday.



Flatt, who coaches the Oklahoma City Storm, spent most of the day running back and forth at Southern Nazarene's Sawyer Center, making sure his baby — the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championships — ran smoothly.

For the most part, it did.

Once again, the Sawyer Center was overflowing with homeschool basketball players and their families from around the country.

At one point during the awards ceremony, the gym had to be partially evacuated after someone set off a smoke bomb on one of the gym's elevators.

Still, Flatt was enthusiastic as the event drew to a close.

"It's been exciting,” Flatt said. "This is always fun out here.”

And it was.

In the girls title game, Iowa State signee Whitney Williams and Taber Spani, who's being recruited by women's college basketball's big two — UConn and Tennessee — squared off.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma was in the stands Friday watching Spani's semifinal game.

Saturday, both players scored 39 points — and Spani added 16 rebounds — but Williams got the better end with a 74-62 win for her THESA Riders over Spani's Kansas City Metro.

And Williams and Spani aren't the only ones who will continue to play in college — they're just the most high-profile.

THESA coach Alan Burt said three or four other Riders likely would play in college.

After the championship game, there was no dog pile on the Sawyer Center court. Williams and her teammates just shared hugs before hoisting their gold ball trophies.

They were every bit as happy as their public-school breathren, though.

As the Riders celebrated in their locker room, members of the boys team formed a tunnel, raising their hands and cheering whenever anyone exited the room — player, coach, parent, whoever.

And these players aren't just good for homeschool basketball — just look at where Williams and Spani will end up next fall.

The Riders went 1-1 against teams who made the state tournament in Texas' Class 5A, that state's largest classification.

The HCYA Warriors, who won the boys tournament, have made a name for themselves playing against public-school teams, including a solid showing in last year's Shortgrass Invitational in Altus.

Earlier this season, Flatt's Oklahoma City Storm — who didn't even make the championship game — beat eventual Class 4A semifinalist Star Spencer.

The event will return next year for a ninth edition.

Since it started in 2001, it has tripled in size, now hosting about 300 teams.

The impact on the city's economy has been a big plus. Try approximately $9 million.

The biggest change this year was the addition of Wednesday's showcase event at the Sawyer Center, featuring All-American boys and girls games, a 3-point contest and a dunk competition.

"That was probably the highlight of homeschool basketball so far,” Flatt said.

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