Focused On State Vantine-Led Colfax Chases Title It Just Missed

Becky VanTine’s objective this season was to become a more well-rounded basketball player.

Look at her stats from the District 7 1A championship game against Freeman on Feb. 18 and it’s obvious she has accomplished that goal.

The Colfax High junior scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and passed for five assists as the Bulldogs won easily, 62-32.

Such efforts by the 5-foot-10 forward have landed Colfax back in the State 1A Tournament, which begins Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome. Colfax (18-5) is coming off a 48-42 win over Brewster on Saturday in the Region IV Tournament and opens with Overlake (14-10) at 5 p.m.

The Freeman girls (10-14), third from regionals, play Seattle Christian (21-4) at 2 p.m.

VanTine’s recent performances are exactly what Bulldogs coach Dave Ebersole hopes for from his players.

“That’s the kind of unselfish team play that makes us the team we are,” Ebersole said. “She’s a real quiet leader. She leads by her actions.”

VanTine isn’t a rookie to state tournaments. She gained valuable experience last season when Colfax placed second in state and advanced to the title game for the first time in 19 years. She also played for the school’s volleyball team that finished second in state last fall.

VanTine, a third-year basketball starter, was named the Northeast A League MVP, but she makes sure to point out that opponents can’t just focus on her.

“It’s nice to have a bunch of different weapons on the team,” she said. “If they try to stop one person, another one will step up. I just focus and try to worry about just playing the best I can and playing as a team.”

VanTine, who on occasion helps out on the family farm driving a truck during harvest, started playing basketball in third grade. She has always been tall, but stopped growing when she reached high school. That was fine with her.

She said her height is perfect and allows her to be versatile and play any position.

VanTine considers basketball her main summer job, but during the school year homework is just as much a priority. VanTine studies every night after practice and maintains a 3.94 grade-point average.

“I try to focus between sports on school,” said VanTine, 17. “There’s an understanding between me and my family that if I play sports I have to keep up my grades.”

She likes to make time for herself each night, too. She spends time in her room watching television or listening to music.

During basketball season, she doesn’t find a lot of time for her friends, but it’s worth it to go to state.

“It’s something I really enjoy,” she said of sports, particularly basketball. “I hang out with my friends all day at school every day.”

VanTine admits she’s shy and doesn’t like to talk in front of groups at school, but shooting free throws under pressure is different, she said.

“I don’t really think of it as if I’m performing for an audience,” she said. “It’s something that I like to do and something I’m doing for my team.”

Everything is about the team for VanTine. She doesn’t think much about her points or other stats.

“I don’t think that one person can control a whole game,” she said. “If I move the ball around and pass the ball around, that works better than one person trying to control it by themselves.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: MATCHUPS State 1A girls At the Tacoma Dome, Wednesday Freeman (10-14) vs. Seattle Christian (21-4), 2 p.m.

Colfax (18-5) vs. Overlake (14-10), 5 p.m.