By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
Versailles High School is no secret to high school sports fans in Ohio. The Tigers own one of the state's top football traditions, winning seven state titles since 1967 and finishing second in three other seasons.
But there is another sport in Versailles that has a long, successful tradition of its own - girls basketball. Led by the sister tandem of head coach Jacki Stonebraker (married name), and junior forward Justine Raterman, the Tigers have run off a 23-3 record this season and are two games away from winning a first-ever state title.
The Raterman sisters have been instrumental not only in this run to Columbus, but in all three of the Tigers' Final Four appearances.
Jacki was a freshman on the 1992 team that made the inaugural trip under longtime coach Tim Barga. In 1998, Julie Raterman helped the Tigers earn their second trip to Columbus. Now, it is the youngest of the three, Justine, making the trip thanks in part to the guidance from her sisters.
"Justine has been able to get two different viewpoints of the game," Julie said. "Jacki was an offensive player (scoring over 1,000 points at Bowling Green State University) and I was more of a defensive player."
Julie, who went on to play at Division II West Liberty College, is just a spectator on game day, but she plays a huge role in aiding not only Justine, but also helping Jacki to prepare for a game.
"We talk a lot about the games and basketball," Julie said. "Jacki gets a lot of input from everyone around her and we spend a lot of time watching and breaking down films."
As for Justine's coach, she noted that lessons of life are playing a big role in how she is handling the difference between coaching and playing.
"There is a huge difference between coaching this game and playing in it and this is a whole new experience," Stonebraker said.
As for coaching Lil' Sis, any problems that might have existed have long since disappeared.
"It hasn't been hard on the relationship, simply because we live in different houses," noted Jacki, who teaches and lives in Versailles with her husband and two children "I think it would be a lot harder for a daughter-mother relationship than ours."
Justine, an All-Ohio selection, echoed her sister's thoughts.
"I have always looked up to my sisters and that has really helped my determination," Justine said. "Playing for my sister really hasn't been that hard after the first year. We just go to practice and then go home."
Versailles will take the court against Cleveland Central Catholic Thursday with Justine looking to do something neither Jacki nor Julie could - win a game in the Final Four. A championship would be the final piece of the puzzle for a successful trio of basketball sisters.