It’s hardly the time of year to talk about snowballs.
Yet Harvest Christian coach Rich DeTamble can’t help himself, and Grace and Addie Ringel are part of the reason. The Ringel sisters have transferred from Kaneland to Harvest.
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“It’s like a snowball rolling downhill,” DeTamble said. “Five years ago when I started in the program, we had six girls. Total. Now we have 18. We’re even playing in JV tournaments.”
It’s become like the field of dreams, except with a basketball court. DeTamble built a program, and players have come. The Ringels are among the latest, transferring for their senior years.
Last season, the Lions (29-5) reached the state finals in Class 1A and earned a fourth-place trophy. That only has added to the snowball. Harvest will be moving up to 2A due to the IHSA’s success factor.
The Ringels definitely have been welcomed.
“I’ve never had a legitimate post player since we started here,” DeTamble said. “At state last year, that really hurt us.”
Now, the Lions have two.
And the 6-foot-1 Ringel twins are not the only new players entering the program.
Junior point guard Elena Porrata has transferred from Palatine to Harvest. Also, 6-foot freshman Kelby Bannerman is enrolled at Harvest after playing at Hampshire Middle School.
Grace Ringel, who’s considered a potential college prospect, raved about what the change has done for her game.
“The big thing I love about it with our team is the positivity,” Grace Ringel said. “If coaches put too much emphasis on the negative, I don’t do as well. I do the best is when they’re positive.”
Perhaps only Mr. Rogers was more positive than DeTamble is. His upbeat energy permeates the program.
“I really love this style of coaching,” Grace Ringel said. “They don’t look at my height and restrict me to being only in the post.
“We were doing some pressing and they had me up trapping the guards and stuff because of my length, and I was able to tip balls and cause turnovers. I loved that. It’s getting me better and pushing me to do things I wasn’t asked to do before.”
The Ringels had already decided to leave Kaneland, and their friendship with Harvest Christian’s Jennifer Kasper led to interest in the school. Kasper and the Ringels ride show horses together.
The addition of Porrata gives Harvest Christian’s backcourt versatility. Porrata could prevent opponents from double-teaming or triple-teaming potential Division I player Alyssa Iverson, who led the Lions last year to state.
“Elena is a very talented guard, very quick and confident,” DeTamble said. “And Iverson can move to the two position. They do well together.”
Harvest made a strong showing in games at Dundee-Crown’s summer league, won the Aurora Christian Summer League and went 3-0 in the top division of the Toledo Team Camp. Next up is a fall league at Montini.
“It’s nice that when everybody sees what we have done here, it kind of sells itself,” DeTamble said. “With the Ringels, it’s a leap of faith doing this in their senior year. But I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve fit in. They’re both leaders.”
Such leadership is only one more reason to anticipate Harvest Christian will be no less competitive in 2A.
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