El Dorado’s Korte Is Double Threat

PLACENTIA —  Don’t blame El Dorado High School sports fans for going home just a bit confused after watching the girls’ basketball and soccer teams play last Thursday.

They probably thought they were seeing double.

They were.

On Thursday afternoon, senior forward Theresa Korte had a goal and three assists to lead El Dorado’s soccer team to a 5-0 victory over Villa Park.

Later that night, senior guard Theresa Korte scored 13 points to lead the Golden Hawks’ girls’ basketball team to a 47-41 nonleague victory over Sonora.

Same girl. Similar results.

No wonder her classmates nicknamed her Bo, as in Bo Jackson.

Korte, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, may not be the first or the last athlete to play two sports in the same season, but she is one of the best.

Consider what she did last week.

In soccer: Korte scored a goal to help El Dorado to a 4-0 victory over Rosary.

In basketball: Wednesday, Korte had 14 points to lead El Dorado to a 44-42 victory over Downey in the El Dorado tournament.

Korte scored only one point in a 45-39 loss to Saugus Canyon on Friday, but came back the next night to score 15 in a 44-35 victory over Long Beach Jordan.

Korte started playing soccer last year after transferring from Burke, Va. She wanted to play basketball as well, but wasn’t sure if she could. “I was surprised when I found out she was going to play basketball, too,” El Dorado soccer Coach Jim Eyre said. “She said ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to play basketball.’ ”

It wasn’t that simple, but it was close.

“I asked the athletic director (Sally Reclusado) if it was OK and it was,” Korte said. “At the end of last year, I went to a basketball meeting and then played with the team in the summer. I told the coach (Dan Henshall) that I was going to play both and he said, ‘Sure, we’ll work it out.’

“I didn’t know you could play both in the same season or I would have done it last year,” Korte said. “In Virginia, basketball is a winter sport and soccer is in the spring.”

Eyre and Henshall encouraged Korte to play both sports. Two-sport athletes have become a rarity in high schools as many coaches encourage players to concentrate on one sport.

“She had to leave a couple of games early, and I guess some coaches get selfish at that point,” Eyre said. “But what’s the big deal? No one’s losing money because of it. Maybe I’m a little laid back.”

Playing two sports means a long day of practice for Korte. She goes to soccer practice after school, takes a half-hour break and then it’s off to basketball practice.

“It’s OK,” Korte said. “It’s like a soccer tourney, I guess. It’s like playing two games (in a day).”

She also plays field hockey, her favorite sport, which is not offered as a competitive sport at El Dorado. She played field hockey in the fall when she was living in Virginia and participates with a club team in Orange County.

This past fall, Korte began playing tennis and was promoted to varsity by the end of the season.

Once her basketball and soccer seasons end, Korte might try another sport.

“I think I might try softball, but I don’t know, “ Korte said. “Greg Lillie (an assistant basketball coach) also helps coach softball and he wants me to go out for the team.”

Eyre said Korte will make a pretty good softball player.

“The thing about Theresa is that she’s a natural,” Eyre said. “It comes to her very easily.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Debbie Fischer of Edison High School set a Southern Section record by making 10 three-pointers against Corona Dec. 11 in the Savanna tournament. Fischer had 40 points to lead all scorers as Edison defeated Corona, 69-37. Fischer also had seven three-pointers in Edison’s 62-54 victory over Norco in the Savanna tournament Wednesday.

April Garcia had three goals Thursday to lead Anaheim’s soccer team to a 5-0 victory over Santa Ana Valley.

Jennifer Leonard had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead Loara to a 56-34 victory over Savanna last Tuesday in the Savanna tournament.

Theresa Korte

El Dorado High School

* Position: Forward in soccer, guard in basketball

* Height, Weight, Class: 5-4, 125, Senior

* Last Week: Korte had a goal in both of El Dorado’s soccer matches and had 43 points in four basketball games.