3/10/2004

Flashes’ Shibata behind the scenes contributor

Kurt Snyder
Daily Kent Stater

Points, rebounds, steals — words usually used to measure a basketball player’s success.

Selfless, smart, loyal — words used to measure Christi Shibata’s success.

During Shibata’s first two years on the Kent State women’s basketball team, Shibata started all but one game, was a demon defensively and a clutch shooter offensively, making the second-most 3-pointers in team history by a freshman in 2001.

But a right wrist injury near the end of Shibata’s sophomore year has severely limited her offensive game the past two seasons. A wrist, which will never be completely healed until she gives up basketball, has turned her into a nineminute-a-game player.

But to Shibata’s coaches and teammates, the senior on this year’s team is so much more.

“She’s unselfish,” Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. “She doesn’t care about who gets the credit. She cares about whether the team does well. Her legacy to the program is going to be the example that she set in practice, that she set in the classroom —the example that she set as a member of the college community.”

Shibata is still on the bench, encouraging teammates each game. When she gets her chance in the game, she is on the floor for seemingly every possession for a rebound or steal.

In fact, the enthusiasm has given her problems throughout her career. Just earlier this season, she separated a shoulder in practice while diving into the bleachers. Then on senior night against Buffalo Feb. 25, Shibata’s hustle as time expired in the first half caused a collision at the foul line, and a subsequent concussion has left her on the bench since.

Junior center Andrea Csaszar arrived at Kent State with Shibata. She said Shibata’s hustle is something for the Flashes’ young players to model.

“Looking at her career, they are going to understand that contributing does not necessarily mean you are going to score 30 points. It’s more like do you give your 100 percent every time. Do you dive after a loose ball? We have to stop Christi every time not to dive into the bleachers.”

Shibata’s practice contributions go beyond the loose balls. Now playing with the backups in practice, it is Shibata’s job to get the starters ready for the Flashes’ next opponent. Lindsay said Shibata’s intelligence — Shibata is also a 4.0 student — allows her to scout opposing players quickly. Not coincidentally, Kent State’s current eight-game win streak has been fueled by defense. Against Buffalo, the Bulls’ star player Jessica Kochendorfer scored just nine points in the Flashes’ 80-53 win.

“All of us whenever we are playing on the other team, we know their tendencies, so we have to get our team prepared,” Shibata said after that game. “She used left-hand penetration; we knew exactly what she was going to do. It was just getting up and stopping her, and we did a pretty good job of that.”

Lindsay said Shibata’s play with the second-unit made up of freshmen and sophomores has raised the Flashes’ level of consistency in practices and in games.

“Her job with that scout unit was: A, to get them to play hard; B, to make all of them understand that it is important to the way you prepare for a game,” Lindsay said. “The more you can get that first team ready by giving them good looks, the better off everybody’s going to be.”

Csaszar said she also has noticed a difference in the freshmen’s play as Shibata has spent more time with them at practice.

“It’s helpful for the second team because they have somebody that’s more experienced that gets after them if they don’t play hard,” Csaszar said. “They need that. As a freshman coming in, you are not pushed out of your comfort zone most of the time in high school. I didn’t know how to play hard for 40 minutes before I came here.

“Once she gets the second team all hyped up, they play really hard against us, and that helps the first team to prepare for our next opponent,” she said.

Sophomore point guard Malika Willoughby said Shibata still pumps up the team regardless of her statistical contribution.

“Christi’s definitely a role model for all of us,” Willoughby said. “She’s the heart of our team. She dives on the floor. She hustles. She’s even playing out of position. She’s really a three-guard, but she’s playing a four. She doesn’t care. She will do anything for us to win.”

While coaches and teammates praise Shibata’s hustle, heart and character, it leaves Shibata modest as she finishes her career at this week’s MAC Tournament and possibly beyond into a postseason bid.

“It feels awesome,” Shibata said. “It shows my teammates appreciate what I’m doing even though I am not putting points up on the board and that they really appreciate my role on the team.”

E-mail: krsnyder@kent.edu