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Lady Blue Devils win championship, find faith Friday, Mar 30, 2001 By Marv Knox |
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas (BP)--The state-champion Lady Blue Devils from Central Heights High School followed the Bible as tenaciously as they played basketball throughout their season in the sun. The Lady Blue Devils defeated Boyd, 57-56, to capture the class 2001 2-A girls' state basketball championship. But the highly coveted championship trophy wasn't the only prize the girls sought this season, explained Stephanie Rollins, a 5-foot, 6-inch senior reserve post and member of Fredonia Hill Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. They sought to please God with their attitudes and actions, on the court and off, Stephanie said. She described the championship season as the event that provided the greatest personal satisfaction of her high school years. An important reason for that satisfaction is "because of the spiritual strides my teammates, coaches and I have made," she explained. "We centered our season around Christ and gave him all the glory for our accomplishments. "This gave me great satisfaction because of the witness we portrayed. Many people noticed our stand for God, and I believe many people were changed because of it." The girls physically exhibited their faith throughout the season. They had team T-shirts printed, and the back of the shirts displayed the Christian "fish" symbol, as well as their motto for the season: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," taken from the New Testament Book of Philippians. Their playoff T-shirts also carried that message. The championship season was shaped by the Christian conversion of Head Coach Dayna Westbrook last fall, Stephanie said. "That drastically affected the direction of our team," she explained. "We began focusing on Christ and pleasing him instead of winning." The state championship turned out to be "icing on the cake," Stephanie said. "That is exactly how I feel about this past basketball season, with the final outcome more enormous than any of us could have imagined." At a reception after the championship, Westbrook, a former standout at Stephen F. Austin State University, told members of the community that receiving Christ as her Savior last fall was her "greatest victory." The team's spiritual focus became obvious to others, reported Kevin Gore, sports editor for the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel. "After that (championship) game, the Lady Blue Devils players spoke of their belief in each other and in their faith in God," Gore wrote in his newspaper. "I've learned that sports writers are a cynical bunch when it comes to religion and sports. The popular opinion among sports writers is that the 'Man Above' cares little about who wins a basketball game. ... "I understand where the Lady Blue Devils were coming from in their references to their belief. While God may not care who wins a basketball game, it was obvious Central Heights' players, coaches and support group were a united and confident bunch, on a mission. "They were determined to spread their message with both a basketball and a Bible nearby." --30-- Editor's Note: Knox is the editor of The Baptist Standard.
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