Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Griffin Effenberger

Even though Ketchikan’s Griffin Effenberger is quite a bit younger than his sister Laci, the game of basketball has kept them close.

Laci was a true hardwood hero, a persistent player who overcame seven knee surgeries to become a scoring sensation at Clackamas CC and NCAA D1 starter at Cal State East Bay.

Now 25, she’s a second-year assistant at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho.

“After growing up watching my Sister play the point guard, I have followed her footsteps and done the same,” Griffin told me. “Now that Laci is a college coach, she has continued to help me grow on and off the court.”

Effenberger, of Schoenbar Middle School fame, is currently a high school junior in Spokane, Washington, where his father got a new job.

“During my current recruitment, I have had the opportunity to meet coaches and play at different campuses throughout Montana, Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington,” he said. “I plan to keep working and see where the future leads me.”

The 6-foot-4 guard only hopes to duplicate his sister’s career.

In 2014, Laci pumped in a NWAC tournament record 42 points for Clackamas and averaged 29.7 points in three tournament games.

Laci Effenberger

At Cal State East Bay, she set school records for most 3-pointers in a game [7] and season [96]. She also made at least one triple in 47 consecutive games.

Hard act to follow, but Griff is up for the challenge.

“My main takeaway from Laci is that, your time on the basketball floor can be taken from you at any second,” he said. “So I don’t take anything for granted. She has taught me that being a part of any team is a privilege.”

He’s hoping to return to Ketchikan next year.

“Next year I am hoping to bring my high school team to the infamous Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic,” Effenberger said.