Together For Final Prep Go-Round -- Foster's Sheppard, Lenear Are In This Game For The Fun

TUKWILA - They arrived at Foster High School on different basketball planes - Shane Sheppard the star, Terron Lenear the learner.

Four years later, they leave on equal footing, each with a armload of honors. They'll cap their prep careers tomorrow in the Class A all-state game at 4:15 p.m. at the Yakima SunDome. It's the second of four star-studded games. The Class B bout begins at 2:45 p.m., with the Class AA contest at 5:45 p.m. and the Class AAA finale at 7:30 p.m.

Sheppard, a 6-foot-1 guard, and Lenear, a 6-3 forward, took separate paths to stardom. Sheppard, who had a basketball in his hands as young as age 2, stepped onto the Foster court as a starter his freshman year. Lenear, who didn't take up the sport until seventh grade, spent two years on Foster's junior varsity before making the top squad.

The two grew close this past season as co-captains of a young team. They were the only senior starters and led the Bulldogs to the Nisqually League title and a fourth-place finish at the Class A state tournament. Both were All-Nisqually first-team selections and Lenear was voted most valuable player. They made their first all-star appearance together in the Senior Ball last week.

"This is going to be even more fun, playing our last game together," Sheppard said.

They could wind up on opposing teams in the community college ranks. Lenear is headed to South Puget Sound CC in Olympia. Sheppard said he'll play at either Highline CC or Long Beach State, depending on the results of his latest SAT. On his previous try, he was 20 points shy of the required score. According to Sheppard, Long Beach State has promised at least a partial scholarship if he meets the requirement. Otherwise, he'll opt for Highline CC, the defending champion in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, although he said he probably would redshirt for the 1997-98 season and play in 1998-99, saving a year of eligibility for a four-year school.

"If I do end up playing at Highline, they get looked at by a lot of major colleges and that will just boost my stock," Sheppard said.

Lenear also hopes to go on to play at a university.

"If that doesn't happen, I'll be disappointed," he said. "But basketball isn't really first in my life. Basketball has given me the chance to get a free education. If basketball doesn't work out, I'll still have my education."

Basketball is No. 1 with Sheppard.

"My life has just been overtaken by basketball," he said, fresh from a three-hour stint on the court.

Sheppard believes he was born to play the game - his mom watched the Sonics win the NBA championship in 1979 when she was pregnant with him. When he was in seventh grade, he started on the Showalter varsity team, comprised mostly of eighth graders. He planned to attend Franklin High School along with friend and teammate Jason Robbins.

But Sheppard was not accepted because he lived outside of the district. He expected playing for Foster to be a cakewalk.

"I was kind of big-headed when it came to basketball," Sheppard said. "I figured I'd be playing varsity. I had a little attitude. (Coach) Karl Albrecht gave me a wake-up call real quick. He put me on JV the first week. Then I got my head together and started working hard."

He was in the varsity lineup for the first game of the season and the following year helped lead the Bulldogs to the first of three consecutive state appearances. This past season, he averaged 14 points, five assists and five steals.

"He was the primary catalyst for our team," said Damon Hunter, who took over as head coach two seasons ago. "We looked to him to dictate the tempo. You usually dictate the tempo with defense, and he was our most valuable defender by far."

Lenear's value grew by leaps and bounds the past three years.

"He's one of the most improved players I've ever coached," Hunter said.

He averaged 16 points per game on a very balanced, deep team.

"He came through when we really needed him," Hunter said. "He always came up with the big shot."

While Sheppard shot to the top quickly, Lenear bided his time.

"I knew my turn was going to come," Lenear said. "I basically sat back and waited. My junior year I got on varsity and got my chance and made good use of it."

Both Sheppard and Lenear are looking forward to making the most of their final prep game. The primary objective, both said, is to have fun.

"We're there for a reason," Sheppard said. "You have to be good to be selected. We shouldn't feel out of place."

Especially when they're together again, one last time.

Hunter steps down

Damon Hunter has resigned as head boys basketball coach at Foster High School to pursue his master's degree at Central Washington University.

Hunter, a Central graduate, was an assistant coach under Karl Albrecht for one season before taking over as head coach. The Bulldogs qualified for the state tournament all three years, placing fifth in 1995 and fourth in '97. Hunter said he plans to return to coaching after completing his master's in education administration.