They’Re Team Within A Team Bond With Father Helps Brothers Thrive At Cv

Mike Boast is a very emotional guy. His chest puffs out when his youngest son, Kyle, is introduced with the Central Valley starting lineup at Greater Spokane League basketball games.

When his oldest son, Dustin, enters games, buttons about burst.

Then, when one son cuts back-door and the other knows it without seeing him, and sends him the ball for another two points for the second-ranked team in the state, well, you can guess.

Mike Boast could be crying right now.

That Dustin and Kyle reached the varsity together is a little lucky and the culmination of a rugged journey, as well as a dream come true.

Mike Boast hoped for boys born close together so they could play sports together. That’s what he missed, despite coming from a family of 12 children five boys, four of whom played in the State B basketball tournament.

“Athletics have always been there, but for me, I always wanted to play with my brothers,” said Mike, who played for Mabton at state in 1974. “I always thought it would be the neatest thing to be able to play with your brother.”

His sons would agree.

“I think it’s cool, it’s awesome,” said Kyle, a 6-foot-3 junior. “All these years of playing together, being on the varsity at Central Valley is even better.”

Dustin, a 6-foot senior, said, “It’s a blast. Seeing him score, light it up, is just as exciting as if I score. He got the luck of the draw being tall.”

Getting there took a lot of hard work by the boys and sacrifice by their father, after the biological luck.

The boys lived with their mother in Seattle after a divorce about 10 years ago. That was a struggle because she was working, going back to school and trying to raise two young boys.

Mike gained custody and the boys returned to Spokane when Dustin was in fifth grade.

“I don’t know if we felt more comfortable living over here or if it was better for us,” Kyle said.

Then their mother died and there was no choice.

“It was a real sad deal,” Mike said. “The boys took it hard. It was devastating. They loved their mom; they didn’t understand what was going on then. We pulled together a lot.”

Families can go in many directions after something like that. Mike immersed himself in his boys, who in turn focused on athletics.

“We dealt with it, hung together as best we could,” Mike said. “We took it day by day. I didn’t have any blueprints to go by, nothing that told me what I am supposed to do, how I am supposed to do it.

“I kept the boys in sports because it was a good therapy for them. If their mom hadn’t passed away, they’d still be in sports, but it was even more important because it gave them something to focus on.”

It wasn’t easy because Mike leaves for his job at a dairy in the middle of the night.

“There are a lot of things that have fallen together that have been absolutely perfect that makes me believe God has looked down on us an awful lot,” he said.

Neighbors, friends, the pastor’s wife, understanding employer - all had a hand in keeping the Boast family running. The star is nephew Todd Heitschmidt of Sunnyside, who came to junior college and lived with the family for more than three years, until the boys were old enough to get around.

“We never missed a practice or a game,” Kyle said. “It was tough for Dad. He would be really tired a lot of times and still would get us to the game on time.”

Mike even coached them, with Heitschmidt as an assistant, in Spokane Valley Baseball.

“It was a good way to be together,” Mike said. “It made the bond strong, almost closer than father-son, it’s almost like father-son-best friend.”

The boys notice the bond.

“We can talk to him about anything, he’s cool with it,” Dustin said. “He gave up a lot and he does everything for us, the little stuff we take for granted, home-cooked meals, laundry.”

Teammate Mike Kreiger nicknamed Mike “Papa Bear” because “he gets along with everyone, he’s like one of the guys,” Kyle said. “Give credit to Dad … he’s been strict … but other times he’s been cool. … he does everything for us.”

But he’s been repaid many times over. Both boys are honor students and good citizens besides fulfilling a dream in athletics.

“Their mom was a good student. They get that from her,” Mike said. “They both understand the role of academics. It’s just as easy to be a good student as it is to be an average student.

“I’ve never had a problem. They’ve never been in trouble. I am the luckiest guy. I am the proudest father, but I am also very, very lucky to have two outstanding kids.”

He credits the boys.

“I gave them support and opportunities, but they’ve worked hard,” he said. “It takes more than you wanting it.”

CV basketball coach Rick Sloan said, “What’s amazing about those guys, first of all, is how Mike manages to attend everything the boys are at…. To do that as a parent by yourself and have the kids turn out like that is pretty amazing…. That’s a real tribute to Mike. Usually brothers have some competitive animosity going on, I did with my brother. I don’t see that with them.”

The boys understood their situation and dealt with it in a surprisingly mature way.

“For me, I’ve always wanted to be the big brother, role model, for my little brother,” Dustin said.

Kyle’s response: “I always looked up to Dus. I always wanted to follow along, do what he had done.”

That certainly gives Mike something to boast about.