First Alternate Basketball Team From Jantsch Wins Championship For Alternative Schools

If not for basketball, Jason McGinnis would be a high school dropout.

Instead, McGinnis is on track to graduate and plans to attend college. He also is a state champion basketball player.

His team, the Jantsch High School Jaguars, won the third annual state tournament for alternative high schools last weekend in Sunnyside.

“I wouldn’t have played at another school. I wouldn’t have even made it at another school,” McGinnis said this week.

Unlike highly publicized teams from Mead, Shadle Park, Cheney and Colville, which are competing in state basketball tournaments this week, the Jantsch team quietly enjoyed its success, drawing little notice for its first state title.

Jantsch is a Spokane School District alternative school for students who’ve had trouble coping at traditional schools.

McGinnis, 19, a forward on the team, isn’t the only Jantsch student who’s stayed in school because of basketball.

“I could guarantee that three of them wouldn’t be in school if it wasn’t for this experience,” said Lyn Erickson, the school’s assistant principal. “They have family and friends who are in serious trouble.”

Like some of the other players, McGinnis said he couldn’t work at the pace of traditional high schools.

“School is not that easy for me,” he said.

Similarly, team captain Tommy Rainwater, a forward/ guard who earned the most valuable player award at the state tournament, said he likes Jantsch because he can work at his own speed.

“I want to go to college and finish up and see if I can go into the NBA,” he said.

School officials said Jantsch students share a lot of the same dreams as other Spokane students.

“Almost all of our kids are just like any other kids,” said Mark Crabb, an assistant coach and school counselor.

Off the court, the nine players “act goofy and try to show off,” said Kim Richards, a Jantsch senior and twoyear scorekeeper for the team.

“They always try to get me to say who’s the cutest,” she said. “I just ignore them.”

On the court, they are very committed.

“On last year’s team, we had a lot of kids who weren’t serious and who were in juvenile (detention) a lot,” Richards said.

This year’s team, with a 19-1 record, was different. Players said three ingredients helped them win: teamwork, coaches who toughened them and their own excitement about the game.

The school’s gym teacher even caught their enthusiasm.

Bill Saye, who also coaches the Shadle Park High wrestling team, adjusted his physical education curriculum to allow the team to shoot hoops during his gym class.

“I loved it. In fact, I was practicing my shake and bake,” he said. “They’re the best group of kids I’ve ever had in the 10 years I’ve been teaching here.”

Saye, who watched the team capture the state title, said more basketball fans should check out the alternative tournament games, which he compares to the caliber of state B teams.

Coach Gary Allen agreed.

“The only regret I have is that we didn’t play any state B teams,” Allen said.

A Sunnyside coach started the state tournament three years ago, seeking an opportunity for good athletes to shine.

Because of the success of the boys basketball team, Jantsch has organized a co-ed volleyball team and wants to start a co-ed softball team and girls basketball team.

Allen said he doesn’t expect any of this year’s players to return. Four are seniors. The others, such as guard Richard Maginnis, probably will return to traditional schools.

Maginnis, a 16-year-old sophomore, said Allen has encouraged him to try out for the Rogers High School team.

“I think I’ll make it,” he said.

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