Family Matters

Robert H. Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior Jacque Barrington (center) balances basketball and her family. UA takes on Washington State tonight.

She couldn't think of a better way to kick off the final conference road trip in her Arizona career than a pre-game meal in her own dining room.

It's not just that her four older brothers and two younger sisters and 11 nieces and nephews were there as well, it's the whole picture. Everyone in her life except for her husband Shawn, all in one room.

"I was always having a million friends over when I was younger. If one of my brothers had a friend over, I'd have to have one, too," Barrington said yesterday morning. "It's going to be neat, I love having a big family and when we can all get together."

For Barrington, family is life.

She got married last summer to Shawn Barrington, a former UA baseball player, and might have done it sooner if the lifestyle of a college athlete wasn't so hectic. Her teammates are her sisters when she is away from home. The McKale Center, in a way, is a n extension of her living room, only now she pushes and shoves against other opponents instead of her brothers.

"Our team is really close. I just love the way we are together, you know how I am with families," said Barrington with the smile that has gotten her out of trouble for years.

"That is a big thing of what drew us together, her love for her family," husband Shawn said. "She is a very caring person, that's part of the reason she gets along well with everybody."

But that is off the court. When she is playing for the team, she's a 6-foot, 2-inch post player that usually gets the assignment of mixing it up with the opponent's bulkiest player. On Saturday, she knocked hips with Oregon State's Tina Lelas- who's not k nown for her good nature. But while the two pushed and shoved for position, only Lelas went to the floor. Credit Barrington's veteran savvy. It takes more than an irate Croatian to get under her skin.

Central Valley (Spokane, Wash.) High School basketball coach Dale Poffenroth, who coached Barrington during her senior year when the team won the state championship, said that wasn't always the case.

"I remember in close games, when in the end, Jacque would set herself in the key and scream for the ball. Two or three layups later, it would be over," he said.

"She was tremendous, the ultimate team player on a team that looked to her most of the time."

While her role for Arizona has evolved into coming off the bench, Barrington doesn't mind.

"I kind of like the situation I have this season. I know coaches are looking for me to come in and play good defense."

"The thing I respect most about Jacque is that she comes ready to play at every game and every practice," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "You have to sacrifice in order to get the rewards you deserve, and she has put in her time. So now, when the reco gnition comes, it's worth it."

Laura Fralich, who has kept in touch with Barrington since the Central Valley High years, couldn't be more proud of her former teammate.

"You can see something special with that team, especially between the players. Jacque may not be starting, but she understands her role and they are lucky to have her.

"It's kind of weird seeing her get married, though. It's always been Jacque Clark to me," said Fralich, who is a senior at The Masters College in Santa Clara, Calif. and the last of Barrington's high school teammates that is still playing Division I colle ge basketball. "Her personality is very real, she's truly a genuine person."

Considered a late bloomer, Barrington wasn't even recruited by either of the Washington schools, but that's not to say that she didn't leave a lasting impression.

"I remember when she came in to say good-bye," said Randy Hunt, who coached Barrington at Cheney High School until the family moved after their junior season. "It always sticks in my mind. She came into my office and thanked me. That meant a lot.

"She was a caring kid. She could always take a joke. Nowadays kids take themselves so darn seriously. Jacque could laugh at herself."

Nothing's changed.

"Jacque is the happiest person I know," UA teammate Mikko Giordano said.

"She's always happy. She was one of the kids who was always smiling," Shawn Barrington said.

But with her career ultimately ending by the end of March, Barrington said she is going to miss Arizona. The Barringtons plan to move to the Washington area.

"I will be happy no matter how my career ends," she said.

At Arizona, she's seen the turn-around from the 13 wins in her first season. She was an integral part of last season's record-setting season which was capped off with the National Women's Invitation Tournament Championship.

On Saturday, she reeled off one more of the famous Barrington smiles when this year's club became the first Arizona women's team to ever win 20 games in a season.

Today's game with Washington State might be her last in Pullman, Wash., but she's not going out alone.

"We all want to win for ourselves, and especially Jacque," Bonvicini said. "It just wouldn't be right for her to leave the family otherwise."