Ramey finds range for NWC

Chase Ramey was voted MVP of last year’s State 2B basketball tournament as a sophomore after Northwest Christian won its second straight championship.

It wasn’t a decision that was universally applauded, but it speaks to the career Ramey is fashioning, said NWC coach Ray Ricks.

Ramey is averaging 17.3 points per game for the 11-1 Crusaders. Crunch his career numbers and it’s no surprise. Tuesday, in an easy win over Lind-Ritzville, he surpassed 1,000 points.

As a freshman, he averaged 14 points per game in postseason and twice scored more than 20 points at state, including 23 in the title win. He’s averaging a composite 13.9 over 2 1/2 seasons. But it is NWC’s 67-5 record during the time that impresses Ramey most.

“I think wins are more important than individual scoring,” he said.

Ramey can score. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound point guard does so from afar, but over the years has become more adept at taking the ball to the basket and is developing a midrange game, Ricks said.

“With 3-point range it makes him tough to defend,” Ricks said.

As he’s matured, Ramey is sharing the ball more and his biggest improvement this year has been on defense, Ricks said.

“He is a competitive little guy,” said Ricks.

Ramey doesn’t deny his competitiveness that at times has produced a hot head and up-and-down results.

“Consistency and patience have improved for me,” he said. “I’m trying to let the game come to me more, and if I’m not hitting to not lose confidence, but slow down and stay calm.”

Ramey comes from a family in which, he said, “Basketball is a second religion.” His cousin, Kelson, from Boulder, Mont., played at Whitworth. His sister, Kaleigha, is averaging 8.1 points a game as a senior at George Fox University.

Chase began playing in kindergarten and has traveled with Washington AAU teams to tournaments in Las Vegas, Houston and Detroit.

“State is a about as big as the national stage, so there was not a lot of pressure or being super nervous as a freshman,” he said.

Last year he had responsibility to score, although he missed much of the state final because of foul trouble.

The Crusaders are not thinking about the possibility of a third straight championship yet.

“You can’t rely on past success,” said Ramey. “But I can’t regret being on two state championships at Northwest Christian. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, it’s a great accomplishment.”