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Grandmother has five grandchildren playing in one basketball game

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 8:55 PM Monday, December 19, 2011

XENIA — Jean Austria, the mother of nine and grandmother of 28, already had a necklace including a gold heart for each grandchild. But this game needed its own shirt.

Last week, she cut and sewed a half-white, half-gold turtleneck featuring a heart in the middle and the names of five granddaughters who will play in one of the more unusual and family-oriented basketball games on the year’s prep calendar.

Tonight’s girls basketbal game between undefeateds Alter (5-0) and Carroll (7-0) will include three starting Bockrath sisters for the Knights and two Austria cousins for the Patriots.

All five are granddaughters of Jean Austria and her late husband, Clement, an ear, nose and throat doctor.

Jean, meanwhile, will be sitting on her hands.

“If I didn’t,” said Jean, whose grandchildren range from 24 years to 3 months old, “I would hurt my hands clapping for my grandchildren.”

Games between the Girls’ Greater Cincinnati League rivals already have extra pop because of the schools’ histories and rivalry in the league’s Grey North Division.

Then add in the family connections and history, which include:

• All nine of Jean Austria’s children attended Carroll.

• Dave Bockrath, who married the former Ann Austria, and his four siblings attended Carroll.

• Allison (senior), Kara (sophomore) and Emma (freshman) Bockrath are in the Alter starting lineup.

• Kelley Austria (senior) and Caroline Austria (sophomore) are cousins as well as cousins to the Bockrath trio.

Their family history also includes soccer, track and football state championships at Alter and Carroll.

It’s a lot to organize, which is why one of Jean’s grandsons produces a calendar each year displaying birthdays, anniversaries and key dates. This is the first time so many members of the Austria line will be on the same field or court.

“It’s been more than unbelievable,” said Dave Bockrath, who played basketball at Carroll a year ahead of Mike Austria, Kelley’s father. “It’s living a dream for me. Every time they come out as a starting unit, I have to pinch myself.”

As the oldest, Kelley and Allison have faced each other on the court six times, with Alter taking a 4-2 advantage in those games. Kelley, one of the state’s top seniors, will play for the University of Dayton beginning next season, and Allison will go on to play for Cornell.

But they have also been teammates on the summer team Ohio Lady Attack, which last summer won the AAU national championship in the junior class age division. The younger Bockrath sisters, Kara and Emma, will join the Ohio Lady Attack in 2012.

“They’re so supportive of each other,” said Duane Williams, the former Chaminade Julienne head coach who coached Kelley and Allison on the Ohio Lady Attack. “Several times in the last couple of years, I would say in a huddle, ‘Kelley, I want you to do this,’ and Allison would come back with, ‘C’mon Kelley, you can do this!’ She was the reinforcer.”

Allison can also be vocal with her sisters at Alter.

“After the games, we’re fine with each other,” she said. “During, it’s easier to ... not yell at them, but talk to them and tell them what you think needs to happen.”

Close off the court, the cousins all held a sleepover at Jean’s house before the school year began. As they gathered for a family photo last week, the five girls giggled through questions about their playing histories, family and who would guard whom (they deferred, not wanting to reveal any game plans).

Asked which player is best in a certain area, they near-unanimously pointed to Kelley. Defense? Kelley. Shooting? Kelley.

“No, it’s Allison,” Kelley said. “Definitely Allison.”

But all agreed on the family’s excitement for this game. Last week, when asked how many family members would be attending the game, Jean said the number of commitments keeps growing.

“Pretty soon,” she joked, “they might have to play the game at the University of Dayton.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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