No time for pain
Western’s Kirschbaum doesn’t let injuries slow him down on the court
By Jerry Giese, Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
How does Stephen Kirschbaum do it?
For about a week, the 6-foot-5 senior power forward from Sheldon High School has been playing with pain in both wrists after two charging calls in last Tuesday's 86-83 overtime win over Hull Western Christian.
Most of the time, he doesn't notice it.
The Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week scored a season-high 33 points in the Lakes Conference victory over the Wolfpack. He followed up with two more impressive outings, tallying 29 in Friday's 75-59 Lakes victory over previously undefeated Spirit Lake and lit up the scoreboard for 31 in Monday's 81-66 win at Central Lyon.
"I was going in for a layup, a kid took a charge and I ended up in the air," said the 18-year-old son of Robert and Sharon Kirschbaum. "I jammed it and I could tell it swelled up a little bit. I couldn't flick my (left) wrist back. It could happen to anyone.
"But once I go in a game, I can't tell it hurts. The adrenaline gets pumping."
Kirschbaum, the leading scorer for the No. 3-ranked (Class 2A) Orabs with a 26.2 average, has had electro-stimulation treatments prior to each of his last two games. The three-year starter, who has scored 1,031 career points, has been advised to continue these until Christmas.
"Lots of kids use something like that as an excuse not to play well," said Sheldon Coach Claude Struve. "Sometimes, it's hard to concentrate because your follow through isn't there because of the pain.
"Look at what he's done the last three games, 33, 29, 31. That's good. I'm amazed how well he's playing with pain."
One of Sheldon's tallest players, Kirschbaum is playing power forward for the first time in a varsity career that has seen him play a variety of positions.
His career started as a freshman when he took over for shooting guard Keith Van Beek for four starts. Van Beek eventually returned for a season that concluded with a 2A substate final loss to Sioux Center.
Kirschbaum averaged 14.4 points as a sophomore for a 21-4 team that lost to Emmetsburg in a 2A substate final. He hiked his scoring average to 18.5 for last year's 19-6 squad that fell 60-53 to Battle Creek-Ida Grove in a 2A substate final.
Kirschbaum describes his post moves as a work in progress, but can see himself improve after every game. Struve said Kirschbaum is working on a baby hook shot along with a turnaround jumper and was impressed with the 15-point fourth quarter the 190-pound senior had while taking over in the Spirit Lake game.
Kirschbaum, who grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over Spirit Lake, has a team-leading 10.2 rebound average. He is shooting 47.3 percent (9 of 19) from three-point range. Overall, he's shooting 51.6 percent.
"He can shoot the three, post up and score inside or outside," said Struve. "If you put a big kid on him, he'll go outside and it you put a smaller player on him, he'll go inside.
"The last two years, he wasn't asked to go inside because we had players like Robben Schat, Andrew Vos, Tyler Lloyd and John Doely. He's quick inside and he passes so well."
If Kirschbaum is double-teamed, he has the option of passing to teammates like David Doely, a 6-foot senior guard who has a 16-point scoring average. Doely has topped 20 points in two of Sheldon's last three games, hitting 11 of 12 free throws while scoring 21 against Western Christian and 20 against Central Lyon.
Justin Kuiper, a 6-2 senior forward who scored 22 against Central Lyon, averages 12.6 points with a team-high 10 3-pointers. Matt DeJong, a 6-2 junior guard, averages 8.8 points while four of 6-foot junior guard Nick Pulscher's six threes came in the second quarter against Spirit Lake.
"Kyle and Kevin Huss get the rebounds for us and they put up good shots," said Kirschbaum. "We have a great guard court with David and Justin and I've played with them a while. Matt put up 20 against Western.
"It's nice to not always have the pressure on you. You can relax and let someone else take the load."
"(Kirschbaum) is a great player, but he's not the only player we have on this team by a long shot," said Struve.
SPECIAL MENTION
Girls Basketball
Traci Bode, Sergeant Bluff-Luton .... The senior guard made a school-record nine 3-point field goals (out of 13 attempts) in a 77-20 War Eagle Conference rout of Spalding Catholic.
Tricia Hoffman, Emerson-Hubbard .... The junior guard/forward poured in 49 points, making 17 of 20 free throws, in a 70-57 win over Omaha Nation.
Note: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820 (extension 4206).
For about a week, the 6-foot-5 senior power forward from Sheldon High School has been playing with pain in both wrists after two charging calls in last Tuesday's 86-83 overtime win over Hull Western Christian.
Most of the time, he doesn't notice it.
The Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week scored a season-high 33 points in the Lakes Conference victory over the Wolfpack. He followed up with two more impressive outings, tallying 29 in Friday's 75-59 Lakes victory over previously undefeated Spirit Lake and lit up the scoreboard for 31 in Monday's 81-66 win at Central Lyon.
"I was going in for a layup, a kid took a charge and I ended up in the air," said the 18-year-old son of Robert and Sharon Kirschbaum. "I jammed it and I could tell it swelled up a little bit. I couldn't flick my (left) wrist back. It could happen to anyone.
"But once I go in a game, I can't tell it hurts. The adrenaline gets pumping."
Kirschbaum, the leading scorer for the No. 3-ranked (Class 2A) Orabs with a 26.2 average, has had electro-stimulation treatments prior to each of his last two games. The three-year starter, who has scored 1,031 career points, has been advised to continue these until Christmas.
"Lots of kids use something like that as an excuse not to play well," said Sheldon Coach Claude Struve. "Sometimes, it's hard to concentrate because your follow through isn't there because of the pain.
"Look at what he's done the last three games, 33, 29, 31. That's good. I'm amazed how well he's playing with pain."
One of Sheldon's tallest players, Kirschbaum is playing power forward for the first time in a varsity career that has seen him play a variety of positions.
His career started as a freshman when he took over for shooting guard Keith Van Beek for four starts. Van Beek eventually returned for a season that concluded with a 2A substate final loss to Sioux Center.
Kirschbaum averaged 14.4 points as a sophomore for a 21-4 team that lost to Emmetsburg in a 2A substate final. He hiked his scoring average to 18.5 for last year's 19-6 squad that fell 60-53 to Battle Creek-Ida Grove in a 2A substate final.
Kirschbaum describes his post moves as a work in progress, but can see himself improve after every game. Struve said Kirschbaum is working on a baby hook shot along with a turnaround jumper and was impressed with the 15-point fourth quarter the 190-pound senior had while taking over in the Spirit Lake game.
Kirschbaum, who grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over Spirit Lake, has a team-leading 10.2 rebound average. He is shooting 47.3 percent (9 of 19) from three-point range. Overall, he's shooting 51.6 percent.
"He can shoot the three, post up and score inside or outside," said Struve. "If you put a big kid on him, he'll go outside and it you put a smaller player on him, he'll go inside.
"The last two years, he wasn't asked to go inside because we had players like Robben Schat, Andrew Vos, Tyler Lloyd and John Doely. He's quick inside and he passes so well."
If Kirschbaum is double-teamed, he has the option of passing to teammates like David Doely, a 6-foot senior guard who has a 16-point scoring average. Doely has topped 20 points in two of Sheldon's last three games, hitting 11 of 12 free throws while scoring 21 against Western Christian and 20 against Central Lyon.
Justin Kuiper, a 6-2 senior forward who scored 22 against Central Lyon, averages 12.6 points with a team-high 10 3-pointers. Matt DeJong, a 6-2 junior guard, averages 8.8 points while four of 6-foot junior guard Nick Pulscher's six threes came in the second quarter against Spirit Lake.
"Kyle and Kevin Huss get the rebounds for us and they put up good shots," said Kirschbaum. "We have a great guard court with David and Justin and I've played with them a while. Matt put up 20 against Western.
"It's nice to not always have the pressure on you. You can relax and let someone else take the load."
"(Kirschbaum) is a great player, but he's not the only player we have on this team by a long shot," said Struve.
SPECIAL MENTION
Girls Basketball
Traci Bode, Sergeant Bluff-Luton .... The senior guard made a school-record nine 3-point field goals (out of 13 attempts) in a 77-20 War Eagle Conference rout of Spalding Catholic.
Tricia Hoffman, Emerson-Hubbard .... The junior guard/forward poured in 49 points, making 17 of 20 free throws, in a 70-57 win over Omaha Nation.
Note: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820 (extension 4206).
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