10 questions with Oaks Christian's Katie Brooks

Photo courtesy Oaks Christian School MVP—Oaks Christian junior Katie Brooks is averaging 18.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per outing through nine games. When the Oaks Christian girls' basketball squad needs a big bucket or a crucial rebound, junior small forward Katie Brooks usually delivers for the Lions.

Late last month, Brooks, a three-year member of the Lions' varsity team, was named MVP of the Winter Slam Jam at Van Nuys.

She's helped direct OCHS to eight victories in its first nine games.

As of Wednesday, Brooks led the Lions in points (18.7), rebounds (11.6) and blocks (2.9) per contest. The Acorn recently caught up with Brooks prior to practice to ask 10 questions.

Q) Katie, you scored 37 points and had 18 rebounds during a Dec. 30 game against Corvallis, Ore., in the final of the Winter Slam Jam. What the heck happened there?

A) Our team just stepped up to the plate. We all meshed well together. I wanted to win the game and do anything I could to help our team facilitate offense and defense.

Q) Was that the best game of your life?

A) I don't know if it was the best, but it was definitely a very impactful game, not just for myself, but for the team as a whole.

Q) According to the website www.MaxPreps.com, you lead the Tri-Valley League in points, blocks and rebounds per game. Which of those three categories are you most proud to lead in?

A) This year, for me, it's points. I've led in rebounds in the past, and I've led in blocks as well. Leading in points is something that I haven't accomplished before. Generally, I'm more of a defensive player—that's kind of my thing—but doing something I haven't done before is special.

Q) Can the team's fast preseason start correlate into league success?

A) I believe it can. We're on a great roll right now, but we know we can't let up. Hopefully winning our last tournament will give us the momentum we need to win the Tri-Valley.

Q) Do you expect Fillmore to be your biggest obstacle for a league title?

A) I do. They have good seniors in Aimee Orozco and Rebecca Herrera, and there are a couple of others. They're very experienced. They have a new coach, too, and I don't know how that's going to work out for them.

I'm expecting the Fillmore games to be our biggest games, but I'm not overlooking anyone else, either.

Q) Speaking of coaches, what type of guy is Andre Chevalier?

A) Honestly, he's probably the greatest coach I've ever played for—his style, the way that he motivates you and pushes you.

Before we practice, we have an offensive and defensive emphasis we go over. He's constantly pushing us, and he makes things fun. He's willing to teach and to bring things down to our level. I just like his intensity and how he pushes me and the rest of my teammates.

Q) Who is the Lions' unsung hero this season?

A) Alex Rice. She's a sophomore. She currently can't practice because she hurt her ankle.

She might not be the most talented player on the team, but she's consistently the hardest worker. The reason why she plays so much is because she works so hard day in and day out.

She always wins when we're doing sprints. She's always the fastest. I appreciate her heart and her effort.

Q) When you walk into the gym at Oaks Christian, do you feel pressure to perform because of all the different CIF banners on the walls?

A) Because basketball isn't something that's a big deal at our school, I don't feel that pressure.

However, I do feel like, for this sport, there is something that I want to prove to the rest of the school. We want to have the fans come out. I want to win, and I want to show people that we're more than just Oaks Christian football. We do win, too, and we are successful.

We've had Michelle Clark, who's now at Purdue, and Chelsea Carlisle, the Ventura County Player of the Year, and I've talked to people at school who didn't even know who they are because girls' basketball is no big deal here.

Q) What's the first thing people generally say to you when you tell them you go to Oaks Christian?

A) People think of two things: They think about football or people having a lot of money.

The football thing is what our school is known for. We've won state before. But we do have other programs that are successful. Our girls' soccer team is amazing. Last year our girls' cross country team won state. Everyone thinks about the football team, but even our boys' swimming team is amazing.

People also think everyone at Oaks has money, and that's not always the case.

Q) I've never asked this before, but do you want to give a shout-out to anyone?

A) My brother, Jason. He plays baseball at Dartmouth.

He's the one that pushes me in the backyard. He'll shove me into the wall or block my shot. He'll be the older brother, and he won't let up on me.

The night before our championship game at Winter Slam Jam—and I'm sorry I'm getting emotional—he told me that I needed to step it up because I wasn't playing with as much heart as he wanted to see, and he only sees me play a few times per year. So I stepped it up, and we won.

— Stephen Dorman