Carrying the torch

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Thursday, 11 December 2008 06:54

Brent Shirley, Weatherford Telegram

Weatherford College women's basketball Head Coach Bob McKinley only knows two Lithuanian words: labas, meaning hello, and ginyba, the word for defense. He wishes he could know more. His assistant coach, Reda Petraitis, and two guards, Egidija Busaite and Saule Kontoutaite, are all from Lithuania.

"They will talk in Lithuanian all the time, especially when they are in her (Petraitis's) office," McKinley said. "I have to say 'Only English.'"

Petraitis was the first Lithuanian player McKinley coached. She played for WC in the 1996-97 and 97-98 seasons, helping lead the Lady Coyotes to a Final Four appearance in 97. Since Petraitis, McKinley has had at least one Lithuanian player on his team each year.

"It's nice to have two Lithuanian players on the team," Petraitis said. "We're bringing the international flavor. I like it. I think it's easier for them. I was the first one, and it was a little bit harder."
McKinley hasn't recruited players from Lithuania. Each new player joined the team after a recommendation from a current Lithuanian WC player.

"They (the current international players) know who can play well better than we can," McKinley said. "They play with them all the time. They know about each other, and that's been a really big help for us."

McKinley said having a tradition of Lithuanian players on the team, all recommended by former players, is a luxury. Kontoutaite said it is cool to be the newest in the line of Lithuanian players at WC.

Busaite, a sophomore, played for the Lady Coyotes last season. She and Kontoutaite played with each other on the Lithuanian national team for four summers. Freshman Kontoutaite, who attended high school as an exchange student in Florida for the past two years, joked around with Busaite about joining her at WC.

"I was here first," Busaite said. "I recruited her, because we played together on the national team. She was my friend."

Busaite was invited to WC by Lithuanian friend Arendijus Majerus, a former assistant coach for the WC men's basketball team.

Busaite and Kontoutaite grew up with a different style and system of basketball in Lithuania. Players join their town team at a sports school, and each age group has its own coach. Instead of getting new coaches at each level, the players' original coach stays with the age group all the way through the equivalent of high school. This develops deep relationships between players and coaches. Busaite and Kontoutaite did not play on the same town team, but on the national team. Players must try out for the national team, and it is an honor for the 12 who make it.

Petraitis said the independence of children is another major difference between America and Lithuania. In Lithuania, parents don't drive their children to basketball practices. Even at ages as young as seven, the children take the bus to and from practice.

The playing style is also different. Petraitis, Busaite and Kontoutaite described European basketball as more intelligent, while players are more athletic and physical in America. McKinley said players learn better fundamentals in Lithuania, as opposed to high schools in America that are starting to focus more on scrimmaging. Sound fundamentals allow the Lithuanian players to pick up the American style of play quickly.

"In Europe, there is more team play," Kontoutaite said. "Here, you just do whatever you do best."

Busaite sat out for three weeks of this season with a hip injury. When she is healthy, she gives the Lady Coyotes a long-range threat. She hit nine three-pointers in a game last year, and one game in Lithuania, she sank 12. Kontoutaite can also shoot from three-point range, as well. Both players run the fast break well, but Kontoutaite has a knack for scoring layups.

McKinley said Busaite brings a great attitude and intensity to the team.

"She is one of those players who gets up and runs about five miles every morning, no matter how cold it gets," McKinley said.

Busaite and Kontoutaite attribute their extra conditioning to the hard work ethic they learned in Lithuania.
Both players have adapted to life in America quickly. The hardest transition was keeping up with school classes. Kontoutaite said she spent up to five hours a day doing homework for her Florida high school. With the help of friends and teachers, she learned English. Busaite didn't speak English at all before she moved to America. She only knew simple words like dog, cat, hello and bye.

"It took about four months (for her to be able to communicate with teammates)," Busaite said. "When I came over, I felt stupid, because in Lithuania I had good grades. And then here, I had C's. But now it's better."

Busaite and Kontoutaite are close. The two almost share a birthday. Busaite was born on February 13, 1989 and Kontoutaite was born the next day. Sometimes, especially when basketball games don't go well, homesickness sets in. But they both keep in touch with their families back in Lithuania through internet chatting.
For now, their focus is on Thursday's game at Trinity Valley.

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