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MADISON − The fifth verse of the first chapter of John in the Bible states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Friday was more than just a second straight trip to the WIAA Division 5 state boys basketball tournament for Abundant Life Christian in an 80-51 loss to No. 2 seed Sheboygan Lutheran.
Just over three months ago, the Abundant Life Christian community was rocked to its foundation when a 15-year-old freshman student opened fire at the K-12 school, killing three and wounding six others.
"Even though we lost today, that's not what the story's about," said Challengers guard Jacob Koon, who finished with 10 points Friday in his final high school game.
"We're here today to give God all the glory. Our platform today was to show him who and what's important in life. It's not basketball, it's Him. This season has just been really, really phenomenal, to give God all the glory. That's what our team model has been all year, to not focus on basketball but to grow closer to Him and give Him all the glory."
Challengers coach Mike Thies sarcastically asked and showed a tiny smile if a question was trying to make him cry in the team's postgame media availability. It wasn't just about him or his team.
Everyone in the Abundant Life Christian community had their own path and story to tell since the tragedy in December.
"I would just say the thing that gets me choked up is just thinking about each and every kind of team, each and every person in the stands just kind of has their own story with what they've been through this year," Thies said.
"To know that our basketball team gave them some joy and some happiness, something to come around, something to be excited about, something to be happy about ... I tell these guys a lot that's it's a lot more than basketball. We play for a much higher purpose, and when God continues to give you opportunities to play for Him and his higher purpose, and for our community and for our fans, I just am so grateful."
Thies shared a lengthy and emotional hug with twin brothers Jacob and Jonah Koon after the press conference, echoing the John 1:5 verse that was written on the sneakers of the Abundant Life Christian players Friday about being a light in a time of darkness.
"That was a verse that was talked about at funerals," Thies said. "(The verse) just meant a lot to our community in general that no matter how dark or bleak or hard something is, the light is just the way the light works. It always is going to illuminate the darkness.
"That's not just a story for our school, but it's a story for each individual because there's darkness in all of us, and when the Lord comes ... it's the context of that verse. It's Jesus coming into the world and that whole Chapter 1 of John is talking about that. When you experience that in a very real way, that verse just comes alive."
Abundant Life Christian finished the season with a 23-7 record. It was making its second appearance at the WIAA state tournament after finishing as the Division 5 runner-up last season.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: High school basketball: Abundant Life Christian shines through darkness
Continue reading...
Friday was more than just a second straight trip to the WIAA Division 5 state boys basketball tournament for Abundant Life Christian in an 80-51 loss to No. 2 seed Sheboygan Lutheran.
Just over three months ago, the Abundant Life Christian community was rocked to its foundation when a 15-year-old freshman student opened fire at the K-12 school, killing three and wounding six others.
"Even though we lost today, that's not what the story's about," said Challengers guard Jacob Koon, who finished with 10 points Friday in his final high school game.
"We're here today to give God all the glory. Our platform today was to show him who and what's important in life. It's not basketball, it's Him. This season has just been really, really phenomenal, to give God all the glory. That's what our team model has been all year, to not focus on basketball but to grow closer to Him and give Him all the glory."
Challengers coach Mike Thies sarcastically asked and showed a tiny smile if a question was trying to make him cry in the team's postgame media availability. It wasn't just about him or his team.
Everyone in the Abundant Life Christian community had their own path and story to tell since the tragedy in December.
"I would just say the thing that gets me choked up is just thinking about each and every kind of team, each and every person in the stands just kind of has their own story with what they've been through this year," Thies said.
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"To know that our basketball team gave them some joy and some happiness, something to come around, something to be excited about, something to be happy about ... I tell these guys a lot that's it's a lot more than basketball. We play for a much higher purpose, and when God continues to give you opportunities to play for Him and his higher purpose, and for our community and for our fans, I just am so grateful."
Thies shared a lengthy and emotional hug with twin brothers Jacob and Jonah Koon after the press conference, echoing the John 1:5 verse that was written on the sneakers of the Abundant Life Christian players Friday about being a light in a time of darkness.
"That was a verse that was talked about at funerals," Thies said. "(The verse) just meant a lot to our community in general that no matter how dark or bleak or hard something is, the light is just the way the light works. It always is going to illuminate the darkness.
"That's not just a story for our school, but it's a story for each individual because there's darkness in all of us, and when the Lord comes ... it's the context of that verse. It's Jesus coming into the world and that whole Chapter 1 of John is talking about that. When you experience that in a very real way, that verse just comes alive."
Abundant Life Christian finished the season with a 23-7 record. It was making its second appearance at the WIAA state tournament after finishing as the Division 5 runner-up last season.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: High school basketball: Abundant Life Christian shines through darkness
Continue reading...
