Hard work pays off for Eagles standout

Senior Keenan Christiansen has been working hard ever since his junior high days.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HERSHEY, Pa. -- As a junior high school basketball player at Kennedy Christian, Keenan Christiansen knew he was being watched.
So he wasn't about to disappoint anyone.
Christiansen vowed to maintain his strong work habits, hoping some day they would pay off.
"Coach [Joe Votino] saw me working as hard as I could my seventh and eighth grade year and he knew I wanted to play, so he moved me up," Christiansen said. "From then on, it's been winning seasons."
The 6-foot-4 senior guard culminated his high school career Friday in Kennedy Christian's 87-45 victory over Fairfield in the PIAA state championship game.
When the on-court celebration began, Christiansen was presented with the fourth gold medal of his high school career.
"I think him and [professional] Billy Owens are the only two kids in the state that have four gold medals," Votino said.
Major role: Christiansen had a major part in the Golden Eagles matching Carlisle's Pennsylvania record of four straight state titles.
He opened the game with a jumper and followed with a strong drive to the basket. That was only the beginning, because Christiansen scored 10 first-quarter points and finished with a game-high 27.
"Keenan wanted this bad," Votino said. "He was on fire."
Christiansen said, "I was feeling it in the first couple minutes.
"I just wanted to win, because all of the hard work and Coach Votino yelling at you day in and day out," he said. "It just makes you want to play the best you can."
In the PIAA state semifinal game Tuesday against Duquesne, Christiansen made six 3-pointers for his 18 points. Friday, he made five shots from long range.
"That's practice right there," Christiansen said. "Me, Danny [McElhinny] and all the guards shoot all day, just in case it comes down to these state games."
Christiansen's teammate, senior center Gary Satterwhite, said, "I don't know where he got that jumper from. I wish I could develop it."
When junior Nolan Reimold is making a move in the paint, he is appreciative of the freedom to pass to a sharpshooter like Christiansen.
"When you get doubled in the post, you know almost every time it's going in," Reimold said, of Christiansen's shot following the kickout.
College next: Christiansen, who holds the Mercer County record for 3-pointers in a career, hopes to get an opportunity to play for a Division I college.
But his father, Kennedy Christian assistant coach Lou Christiansen, kept recruiters away while Keenan focused on his senior season. Only now will his future begin to take shape.
"For four years I've worked my hardest to go Division I," Christiansen said, "but that's God's decision."
Christiansen, pondering a career in hotel management, will enjoy one week off before beginning play with his AAU team.
Still, he will never forget his rare accomplishment of winning four state titles.
"There's so much tradition here," Christiansen said of the Kennedy Christian program. "Great players are before you and you just try to live up to everybody else."