It’s safe to say that Staudacher family basketball games on their Bothell backyard full court are legendary.
Over the years, the adults and kids — along an array of cousins, aunts and uncles — have all come prepared to battle it out for hoops supremacy.
“We had some hellacious family games,” said Dave, father of Cedar Park Christian sophomore star, Rachel, his youngest of five children.
And the contests aren’t always safe for the participants, either.
“I think my daughter (Sheryl) broke my nose one time playing a home basketball game with all the Staudachers,” said mom Sherri, one of Cedar Park’s assistant coaches. “When the kids started beating the adults, the adults didn’t want to play ’em anymore. It’s a very good tradition in our family.”
That’s where a young Rachel learned to play a tough yet smooth style of basketball that would eventually transport the current 6-foot guard into this week’s 1A state tournament.
She’s the latest in a long line of Staudacher hardwood stars. Dave’s 83-year-old dad, Ray, tipped things off back in the day and played his ball at Gonzaga University. Ray lives in Arizona now and is fiercely proud of his basketball family, which also includes standouts like Rachel’s older sister Sheryl and cousins Matt and Ryan, all of whom played or still play for Eastside schools and in college. (Matt’s Lake Washington High team qualified for the 4A state tournament this week at the Tacoma Dome.)
Fifteen-year-old Rachel does it all for the Eagles: confidently bringing the ball up court, banging it out down low with opposing players and lofting shots into the net from the perimeter. The 1A All-Emerald City League first teamer is averaging 17.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 steals and 3.1 assists per game.
“I’ve always been kind of a gym rat,” Rachel said after the Eagles defeated Cascade Christian last week to make state. “I played with my older brothers and sisters — they used to beat up on me. I’ve played forever and it’s always kind of come naturally.”
As for her success at Cedar Park, Rachel added: “I have a good surrounding cast, they make amazing passes and we all work really well together, so it’s not just me. It’s been a good year. We’re a really young team, so hopefully we can keep going (at state).”
Dave, who played ball at Bellevue High and Shoreline Community College and refereed for 30 years (14 in the Pac-10), beamed with pride while watching Rachel help lead the Eagles to state last week. He noted that it reminded him of witnessing Eastside Catholic’s first state run with Sheryl at the controls.
He added that along with Rachel being an unselfish player and possessing an impressive work ethic, she works just as hard off the court in school and even when performing her chores at home.
Looking back, Rachel remembers first honing her skills at the Northshore YMCA at age 6 or so. Along with the backyard games, she then played ball at Skyview Junior High and chose to attend Cedar Park Christian instead of Bothell High.
“We’re like a community,” she said of Cedar Park. “I love that God is in school and it’s a great education. I come here to succeed — it’s working.
“It’s amazing, it’s a great atmosphere and everyone’s so nice,” she added. “I’ve really grown as a person — spiritually — and made a lot of new friends.”
That closeness translates onto the basketball court, as well, said Sherri, who smiled, excitedly wiggled in her courtside chair and slapped her hands together during the state-clinching win at Mountlake Terrace High.
“What’s really funny is you never know who (the hero) is gonna be. Rachel may be the mainstay, but every night somebody different steps up,” added Sherri, who played basketball, volleyball and ran track at Brewster High.
“It’s good when the energy is working,” Rachel said. “When one person has a good game, we just give it (the ball) to her.”
Rachel looks to her mom, coach Sara Land and teammates Mikaela Raschick and injured-but-still-present Anna Brown for guidance and encouragement on the court.
But like a good little sister, she praised Sheryl for setting in her mind early on that perseverance is what makes great things happen on the court.
“She said to always try my best, no matter what,” Rachel said. “Even when you’re down and having a bad game, just to get back up and keep fighting — get back on it.”
