P. J. Rase goes over 1,000 points.. Having a banner senior s

[Focused]

Rio Grande News

P.J. Rase is making his mark on the Rio basketball program with an outstanding senior seasonRase having a banner senior season
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 3:04 PM - [Men's Basketball]
January 20, 2010

Rase having a banner senior season

Rio Grande --- University of Rio Grande senior guard P.J. Rase is having an outstanding season and fans of the program will remember his name long into the future for what he has accomplished on the hardwood. Despite the fact that the RedStorm have struggled for wins in 2009-10, Rase is leading the way and putting up numbers that many who suit up to play college basketball can only dream about.

Rase set a new school record with 10 made three-pointers in an impressive display of shooting at the Mid-South Challenge in November which propelled Rio Grande to a 95-51 victory over Virginia Intermont. The performance also made him a marked man. "If teams want to guard me like that, that's fine" Rase said. "Earlier in the year, the guys did a good job, they worked hard, they got me open, they wanted me shooting it and I was making it. That's only going to make our team better."


"I understand that and so does everybody else," Rase added. "They want to guard me like that, that's fine, that will open things for other people and they're starting to step up and Bud (Teer), he's an animal, he's scoring, he's rebounding. (Brad) Cubbie does what he's supposed to do and Wendell (Bates), he's coming back, he'll be alright and Doug (Campbell), he'll start beating teams.

"If they're going leave me open, I can knock down shots and if not, then Doug will do it or somebody else will and we'll start winning."

Rase, as any competitor would, would trade the accolades and accomplishments this season for wins. "The individual stuff is nice, but I would rather be winning, honestly I really would," Rase said. "It'll start happening."

Rase also eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark in a 70-69 loss at Brescia in early January. He has 960 points at Rio Grande and couple that with the 79 he tallied as a freshman at Ohio Dominican, Rase's current total stands at 1,039.

The Wheelersburg, OH native and product of Chesapeake High School is also leading the Mid-South and the NAIA in free throw percentage (.930), converting 53-of-57 from the charity stripe. Rase, with the help of his teammates, has Rio Grande leading the NAIA as a team in free throw percentage (.776).

Rase deflects the praise. "I'm just doing what I can to make our team better," he said. "I do that every day in practice, we're working to get better and we are getting better."

"We're better than what our record is right now and we'll start winning games and that's what it's all about, our team winning games," Rase added. "I'm doing everything I can to help our team as well as everybody else. We work hard every day and we'll get there, we'll start winning games and once we get one, I think they'll start coming overall."

Rase, the only senior on this year's team, never felt like he had to be the main man on the 2009-10 version of the RedStorm, but he wanted to be a leader. "Not as much as I wanted to be the man and score all the points," Rase said. "It's more like, what I do every day in the games and practice, I want people to be able to look at me and say ‘I want to do what P.J. does or become the player that P.J. is, the way he approaches everything.' That's the way I am, I'm not real loud or vocal; I don't really think I have to be. We have people on the team that do that; I try to lead by example, by actions.

"I've put the ball in the basket a couple of times, but you have to all those other guys too," he added. "It's a team thing."

Rase chose Ohio Dominican over Rio Grande coming out of high school, but after one season decided to transfer to Rio Grande. Although, he doesn't have any regrets about initially going to ODU, he believes he made the right choice in making the move to Rio. "It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life," Rase said. "I'm not going to say I regret going there (Ohio Dominican), because you live and learn."

"(Rio) was on the list of the four or five schools that I had in mind, I went to (ODU), it didn't pan out and I knew I could come back here. Coach French had open arms, he brought me in and it was a great decision of mine, when I look back, it was one of the best decisions that I made in my life. I don't regret it at all and I'm glad it happened."

Rio Grande head coach Ken French is extremely pleased with P.J. Rase the player and P.J. Rase the person. "P.J. Rase represents everything that a student-athlete should. He is one of, if not the best, shooter in the country. I am so proud of what he has been able to accomplish here at Rio. He will be a two time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, he will score well over 1,000 points for his career, set the school record for three pointers made in one game and has solidified himself as one of our all-time best 3-pt shooters," French said. "Coming out of high school a lot of people questioned whether or not he could score at this level. Well I think he has answered all those questions and then some."

Rase also relishes the chance to play with his younger brother Kyle, a sophomore guard on the RedStorm team. "It's fun. We were a good basketball program in high school, so as a sophomore he didn't play much," Rase said. "We played against each other in practice and beat up on each other, we played baseball together and that was fun, but it was nothing like college."

"We get to live together now," he added. "We get to play together. He's worked so hard, where he gets to play now and it's really fun. It's something you don't realize right now until you sit and think about it, but later on in life we'll look back on it and say it was fun. It will be more special then."

"If we make a good play, we're able to give each other a high five, not everybody gets to do that," Rase said. "It touches you when you think about it and I'm glad it happened."

Rase is as silky smooth in the classroom as he is at the free throw line or behind the three-point arc . He is a straight A student and sure to be a repeat recipient of NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors. "That's the No. 1 thing," Rase said. "Coach French, he knows that as well, he tells everybody that. We're here to get our education; we're not here to go the NBA or anything like that, so education comes first."

"It is the most important thing to me and I take pride in it, just like everything else," Rase added. "I'm proud that I get all A's. One more semester and I'm through, I can do it one more time."

French also lauded Rase's work ethic and his desire to improve as a basketball player. "He has worked extremely hard on his game and getting stronger. That dedication has made his confidence soar and it shows on the court. Every time he takes a shot we are surprised if it doesn't go in," French said. "He is a great young man who I have developed a lot of respect and trust in. He is our only senior and a captain."

"He may not be the most outspoken player on our team but everyone in our program respects him and admires what he has accomplished."

Rase is leading the RedStorm in scoring at 16.8 points per game and is shooting .432 from three-point land (60-for-139). He is second on the team in assists with 44 (2.4 apg.).

Rio Grande is 5-13 on the season and 0-2 in Mid-South Conference play. Rase and Co. will aim for their first MSC win of the season on Thursday night versus St. Catharine. Game time is set for approximately 8 p.m.

[BubbleGumTiger]

Congrats to a fine basketball player as well as a fine young man..........

[85inside]

Great accomplishment. Congratulations!

[IronTigerMum]

You and Mrs. Focused have to have buttons popping! Congrats to PJ and the whole Rase clan!

[TPAA]

congrats to P.J.... Heck of an accomplishment at the collegiate level!

[Amen Corner]

Congrats, to P.J. Most impressive in the classroom

[Focused]

Congrats, to P.J. Most impressive in the classroom

I agree Amen Corner... That's what will count in life.

[BigOrangeOne]

Congratulations to P. J. and the Focused household. I agree 100% on the education thing. That's the biggest accomplishment of all IMO.

[biggdowgg]

Impressive!!

congrats to a fine young man...

[henrysteele]

Congratulations on 1,000 points!