The
St. Louis Patriettes girls basketball team is starting a
drive the players hope leads to a national championship
tournament. But, the players' path would lead to a different
kind of tournament.
Their team isn't associated with any school or even with
the AAU.
Rather, the Patriettes players are all home-schooled kids.
And their team is part of a growing network of teams growing
across the country.
If they are successful, they'll play in the National Christian
Home-School Basketball Championships. And, they'd play in
Missouri. Recently, the site of this year's nationals was
moved from Oklahoma City to Springfield, MO.
The Patriettes are in their 6th year as an organized team
and they've had some success. During the season, they play
against other area home-school teams.
Last year, for the second straight season, the Patriettes
won a regional championship. But, they've never played in
the national.
Coach Gary Brehe said, "If we qualify this year, we'll
travel to the nationals."
Last spring, growth of home-school basketball got front
page space when the New York Times newspaper covered the
national tournament in Oklahoma City.
One of the reasons for the coverage was the recent success
of home-school players who went on to play on major college
teams, including Kansas State in the Big 12.
Twelve-year-old Joel Bland is a 7th grader from Maryland
Heights. She and other Patriette players said the basketball
team is more than just about sports.
She said her home-school academic studies are often solitary
activities. "But, in basketball, you have teamwork and you
get to meet other people."
Rebecca
Brehe |
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Brehe and 15-year-old Hannah
Bryant agree.
Rebecca, a senior and daughter of coach Brehe, said, "Home-schooling
classes can be lonely. Basketball gives us another area
to socialize in."
Hannah said, "If I didn't do basketball, I wouldn't know
all the other people I know now."
Last year, the Patriette team involved 34 kids, ranging
in age from 5th grade to high school. Those kids formed
into a varsity, junior varsity and junior high team.
Hannah
Bryant |
Brehe said all kids who come out for the team get to stay.
"We only have tryouts for the varsity," he said. This year,
if more kids come out, the Patriettes are going to add a
5th-6th grade team.
The team will begin practices this month.
Brehe said there are organized home-school teams in a number
of other Missouri cities, besides St. Louis. They include
Kirksville, Lebanon, Rolla, Fulton, Kansas City and Sedalia.
Rebecca Brehe said she started playing basketball when
she was two at the Y in her hometown of Washington, MO.
She started playing with the Patriettes when she was an
8th grader. That's the same year her father became the coach.
Rebecca's younger sister, 13-year-old Micki, also is a team
member.
Now 5'8", Rebecca is a shooting guard on her team.
She said playing in the home-school regionals has been
her most rewarding basketball experience so far. She's hoping
to add a national tournament appearance this season.
Rebecca said she'd like to play college ball at an NCAA
Division III school. Playing in home-school tournaments
helps to generate interest by college coaches.
One of her immediate goals for this season is to beat the
North County Christian team. "We've played them several
times but have never beaten them yet," she said.
Hannah Bryant is a 10th grader who lives in South St. Louis
City.
She said she got started in basketball when she was six
years old. "I was taking a physical education class at the
Y and our leader got me involved," she said.
Like Rebecca, Hannah said basketball was her only sports
activity. At 5'5", she plays small forward for the Patriettes.
She said her best basketball experience was winning last
year's regionals as a member of the 15-under team. "It was
cool to play with the other home-school teams," she said.
Asked about what basketball does for her, Hannah said,
"I'm more disciplined now and that helps me with my academic
classes," she said.
Joel Bland said she started playing basketball five years
ago when she joined a team her father coached and on which
her older sister played. Last year, she was a point guard
on the Patriettes' 14-under team in the regionals.
Joel said she plays a little soccer but basketball is her
main sports activity.
One of her immediate goals for this season is to "learn
how to use both hands." In basketball, the point guard is
expected to be able to dribble and pass with both hands
so she can start the play on either side of the court.
Basketball isn't the only sport available for home-school
kids. Baseball, soccer, volleyball and tennis competition
is available.
(To learn more, visit www.orgsites.com/mo/stlchristianhomesports/index.html.)
