Modesto Christian’s Christian Ellis is Bee’s Athlete of the Week

Modesto Christian’s Christian Ellis isn’t a classic scorer. He’s more of a facilitator, a defender, a rebounder.

But that doesn’t mean the four-year varsity starter can’t score when called upon.

“Scoring is something I can do if it’s necessary,” said Ellis, a 6-foot-3 guard who averages 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game. “I don’t think it’s the most important part of basketball, though. It really depends on how teams choose to defend us. If they’re packing it in against Robinson (Idehen), then I try to get a shot off.”

In a 74-67 win over Sheldon (Sacramento) in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals at Sleep Train Arena, Ellis scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds. To be sure, if Ellis hadn’t scored 20 points above his season average, the Crusaders (30-1) might not have advanced to the D-I final, in which they beat Folsom 61-46 to avenge their lone loss of the season. But it was his defense against Sheldon leading scorer Matthew Manning that proved most critical. After the 6-foot-6 forward totaled 10 first-quarter points against a different MC defender, Ellis held Manning (19.0 ppg) to four points the remainder of the contest.

Ellis also was 4 of 4 from the free-throw line in the closing seconds against Sheldon.

Three nights later against Folsom, Ellis scored only seven points, but he had seven rebounds, an assist on a three-pointer that extended the lead to double digits with three minutes to play and a diving steal with less than 90 seconds remaining that sealed it.

“Every basketball player wants to be well-rounded and good in every area,” said Ellis, who will lead the Crusaders, winners of 30 straight, into Friday night’s NorCal Open Division opener against St. Francis (Mountain View). “It’s something I strive for and hope to get better at.”

Age: 18

Class: Senior

Parents: Darrell Ellis and Viki Axelrod

Birthplace: Berkeley

Hobby: Music

Favorite class: Government

Favorite teacher: “Can I take a pass on this question?”

Favorite food: Chinese

Favorite athlete: Allen Iverson

Favorite superhero: The Incredible Hulk

Favorite app: Snapchat

Favorite emoji: Heart-eyes

Can’t stop listening to: J. Cole and Kevin Gates

Three things you’d want on a deserted island: My mom, music and ice cream

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Modesto Christian’s Christian Ellis is Bee’s Athlete of the Week."