Risen, Atkins Headed for Eugene's "Other" Four Year Program

Northwest Christian University has added a pair of basketball players soon to graduate from Stayton area schools to their mens and womens rosters.

Regis' Darrel Risen used a strong 3A tournament, where he earned a first team all-tournement selection, to solidify his opportunity, while Kelsey Atkins of Stayton made her third consecutive trip to the 4A tournament in the Eagles' backcourt to pave her way.

Northwest Chrstian University of Eugene competes in the NAIA Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Risen, a 6-foot-6 post, was a second team all PacWest Conference selection as a senior, in his only year at Regis. Risen, son of Sprague Athletic Director Mark Risen, spent his first three years of high school at Creswell. His stock rose when he averagec 13.3 points per game in the tournament for the Rams.

"Northwest Christian's coached came to a couple games before that, but they came to all of those games," Risen remarked. "I think that kind of solidified things. The finances came together really well, and it just seemed like the right place for me. Right players, the right coaches, those sorts of things."

"It took me a while to decide whether I wanted to play football or basketball," Risen said. Also named as an all Pac West tight end and lineman for Regis' football team, Risen considered playing football at Western Oregon. "It was definitely an option. I know the coaches there pretty well and some of the players. It's something that I considered."

The Beacon men went  18-13 in Coach Dave Lipp's final year as head coach. Lipp retired after 23 years, and assistant Corey Anderson was promoted to become only the ninth men’s basketball coach in school history. He will be joined by fellow former assistant coach Mark Holmes, who has been elevated to Associate Head Coach.

Stayton's Atkins has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for Northwest Christian.A two time all Capital Conference first team selection, Atkins was the Capital Conference co-player of the year this past season, and led the Eagles to te Conference championship, and the Consolation trophy at the 4A state tournament.

Atkins also earned her second all state second team selection, and started on Stayton's 2007 state championship team, and the 2008 squad that claimed the fifth place tournament trophy.

The NW Christian women were 8-20 under Liz Turner-Bolton last season.

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