1994-95 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / SMALL SCHOOLS : Kempton Plenty Visible for Heralds

Alana Kempton, a standout guard on the Whittier Christian girls’ basketball team, used to wonder how different her future would be if she went to a bigger school.

“I used to wish I had gone to public school,” Kempton said. “I think I might have gotten some better (scholarship) offers at a bigger school, but I am really happy at Whittier Christian. I think I have gotten things here that I wouldn’t have gotten at public school. Whittier has helped me grow spiritually, as well as mentally.”

Today’s college recruiters usually discover the good players no matter how small the school, so Herald Coach Ken Cronquist doesn’t worry about Kempton’s visibility. He believes that if she continues to improve, she should have no worries about remaining in obscurity.

Kempton, a senior, led the Heralds from an at-large berth in the Southern Section playoffs to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Sun Valley Village Christian, 85-53. Kempton scored 16 points in that game.

She averaged 16.7 points and was named first-team All-Olympic League for the second consecutive season and second-team All-Southern Section Division IV. “No doubt a bigger school gets more publicity,” Cronquist said. “But regardless of where she plays she exhibits all the skills of a champion. We talk a lot about her future plans and she knows for her to be prepared to take the next step her skills now, which are satisfactory for high school, are not satisfactory for beyond. She is working hard on that.”

Kempton has begun working out with weights and she is also working on her foot speed. After practicing with the team, she sometimes comes home and shoots baskets in her yard with her father. Rich Kempton, also the Heralds’ assistant coach, always has been there to help his daughter.

“I’ve always thought that other kids would think I’m getting favored,” Kempton said. “But I don’t think anyone believes that anymore. I think they know that I can play and if I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be playing.”

Kempton began playing basketball in seventh grade when she attended Friends Christian Junior High School in Yorba Linda, where her father is assistant principal. Rich Kempton, who played at Chico State until a knee injury forced him to retire, has passed on his love of the game to his daughter.

“He is a great guy. He is able to know when to be a dad and when to be a coach,” Cronquist said. “Both of us understand the importance of team effort and that the team is greater than any individual. But I am sure when they are home alone he gives her individual attention.”

Cronquist believes the closeness of the Kempton family has helped Alana in all her successes. She also has a 3.5 grade-point average and is student body president. She was a homecoming princess this year and she is a water girl for the football team.

In her free time it’s basketball. Kempton, who has 1,003 points in her career, hopes to finish the season with 1,500 points and for her team advance to the division final.

“I’m planning on achieving that goal (1,500 points),” Kempton said. “And I want to improve my all-around game and bring out the best in all the girls.”