Twice is nice

Trinity Christian brings home two championship titles

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Why win just one championship when you can win two?

The girls on the basketball teams at Trinity Christian School thought just that when they brought home both the Private School Athletic Conference elementary and junior high championships in April.

Concentrating on defense, the two Thunder teams won the first titles for the private Henderson school, according to school athletic director Todd Haase.

Led by first-year coach Barry Ard, the elementary girls team capped off a perfect 8-0 season by defeating Lake Mead Christian Academy, 22-13, in the championship game.

Ard explained what he thought was the key to the team -- made up of girls in grades 4-6 -- winning the title.

"The defense was the key. And I just let them do their thing for offense," Ard said. "Coaching wise, I didn't have the girls learn complicated plays or strategies or anything. I had them play zone defense and cover whoever came into their zone. And on offense I just let them do their thing."

Leading the way for the Thunder was the play of Alexa Ard, 11, the coach's daughter and a 5-foot-9 center who also plays for the Tarkanian Basketball Academy, along with point guard teammate Briana Marruffo.

Twelve-year-old forward Natalie Stepna, 10-year-old guards Nicola Cisneros, Anna Maria DeCarolis and Autumn Callard and 9-year-old forward Ashley Love make up the balance of Trinity's middle school roster.

Assisting Ard were coaches Sonny Cisneros and Ray Marruffo.

Playing solid defense like their elementary counterparts, the Trinity Middle School girls also captured the championship trophy, defeating host Mountain View Christian School, 8-6, for all the marbles.

After holding a slim 4-2 lead at half, the Saints tied it at 4-4 early in the second half before Trinity regained a 6-4 lead.

MVCS scored again a little later to make it 6-6 before Erica Barajas scored the wining basket late in the game, giving the Thunder its first junior high crown.

"I didn't stress offense. I told them just to do what you're capable of doing," said coach Gale Kersenbrock. "We had a bunch of role players playing their role and doing what they do best."

In getting to the championship game, the Thunder, 6-3 overall, defeated Southern Highlands, 27-25, in an exciting semifinal as Brittany Kersenbrock had a game-high 11 points.

Along with Barajas and Kersenbrock, Trinity's roster includes Andrea Martinez, Tia Calbert, Heather Brantley, Mariah Gil-Casas, Karry Hristova, Angelique Gilbreath, Rachel Delaney, Abby Glenny and Alyx Yaro.

Kersenbrock credited the balanced play of the entire team.

"There was no MVP on our team," he said. "We had just a bunch of girls that sat down and played as a team."

Kersenbrock was assisted by Andy Martinez on the bench. Mary Movius was the team manager.