Bemidji scoops up second Titan

Posted on June 5, 2014 | in Basketball, Sports | by Jarrid Denney The Torch

For the second time in four weeks, a Lane basketball player has committed to play at Bemidji (Minn.) State University, an NCAA Division II school.

Lane standout Alex Sattley has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Beavers next season, and will accompany Titans teammate Zach Kirschbaum, who signed with the Beavers in May.

Sattley chose Bemidji over Holy Names University, a NCAA Division II school in Oakland, Calif.

“(Bemidji) was a better school for me academically and for basketball,” Sattley said. “I took a visit and I really enjoyed the campus, and all the guys there were really supportive.”

Sattley said that the fact that Kirschbaum had already signed with the school played a part in his choice, but he ultimately had to do what was best for him. He is planning to dual-major in business and exercise science, and hopes to play basketball overseas after college.

In his only season at Lane, Sattley led the Titans with 19.11 points per game, which ranked 12th in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Sattley shot 33 percent from three-point range and scored a season-high 34 points in a Jan. 8 home game.

“He’s instant offense,” Lane head coach Bruce Chavka said. “Having him around was great. He could just score. You always have to have a go-to guy to get some points for you, and he did that for us.”

Sattley and Kirschbaum were the Titans’ top two offensive threats all season long. They scored 48 percent of Lane’s points, and both earned NWAACC Second Team All-Southern Region honors.

“I’m excited,” Kirschbaum said. “It’s always good when you have someone that you have already played with and have chemistry with. Both of us can spread the floor really well, and we can create a lot of different options on the pick and roll as well.”

Sattley, a Portland native, and Kirschbaum, who grew up in Las Vegas, both said they are not looking forward to the Minnesota weather.
“That’s one part that I’m just not thinking about,” Sattley joked.