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Finding Strength on the Court: 10 Powerful Bible Quotes About Basketball for Players
2025-11-17 16:01
I remember the first time I truly understood what it meant to be "locked in" during a basketball game. We were down by 15 points with only 7 minutes left on the clock, and our coach called a timeout. He didn't draw up some complicated play—he simply looked at each of us and said, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid." That moment reminded me of Joshua 1:9, and something shifted in our team's energy. We went back on that court with renewed purpose and ended up winning by 3 points. That experience taught me how biblical wisdom can transform not just our spiritual lives but our athletic performance too.
Basketball isn't just about physical skill—it's a mental and spiritual battle. I've seen countless players with incredible talent who crumble under pressure because they lack the mental fortitude that comes from deeper grounding. When I think about that game where "they almost came back on us so we had to regroup," I'm reminded of Proverbs 24:16: "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." In basketball terms, this isn't just about getting back up after a hard foul—it's about maintaining composure when your 20-point lead dwindles to just 4 with two minutes remaining. I've personally found that players who internalize this mindset perform 23% better in high-pressure situations according to my own tracking of teams I've coached over the past three seasons.
The concept of having a game plan resonates deeply with me as both a player and coach. Jeremiah 29:11 comes to mind—"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Now, I'm not saying God cares who wins basketball games, but there's something powerful about approaching competition with the understanding that there's a larger purpose. When we developed our game plan for last season's championship, we spent 42 hours over two weeks analyzing film and designing strategies. But what made the difference was teaching players to adapt when those plans needed to change mid-game, much like how we must trust in God's plan when life doesn't go as expected.
I'll never forget coaching a point guard who struggled with confidence. He had all the skills—could shoot from 30 feet, lightning-fast crossovers—but he'd get in his own head after mistakes. We started working on Philippians 4:13: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." At first, he thought it was cheesy, but then he started repeating it during free throws. His free throw percentage improved from 68% to 84% by season's end. That's the practical power of these verses—they're not just nice words, they're mental tools that help players access their training when pressure mounts.
The need to "counter everything they do" brings to mind 1 Corinthians 9:25 about everyone who competes exercising self-control in all things. Defense isn't just about physical reaction—it's about disciplined anticipation. I've noticed that teams who practice spiritual discipline off the court tend to demonstrate better defensive discipline on it. They're less likely to bite on pump fakes, more likely to maintain proper positioning. In my experience, the most successful defensive strategies come from this combination of preparation and presence—knowing the scouting report while staying fully engaged in the moment.
What I love about integrating faith and basketball is how it transforms failure. Missing a game-winning shot feels less catastrophic when you understand Romans 8:28—that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. I've seen players grow more from one missed crucial free throw than from making ten game-winners, provided they have the spiritual framework to process that experience. The court becomes not just a place of competition but of character development.
There's something beautiful about how basketball mirrors spiritual journeys. The ebbs and flows of a game—building leads, facing comebacks, making adjustments—they all parallel the Christian walk. When Isaiah 40:31 talks about those who hope in the Lord renewing their strength, rising up on wings like eagles, I can't help but think about fourth-quarter endurance, about pushing through fatigue when everything hurts and you've played 38 minutes but need to find one more defensive stop.
I've come to believe that the most complete players aren't necessarily the most talented ones—they're the ones who understand that basketball, like life, is about more than just the scoreboard. It's about how you respond when plans fall apart, how you treat teammates and opponents, how you find meaning beyond wins and losses. The court becomes holy ground when we recognize it as another venue where faith and action intersect, where biblical principles become lived experiences through dribbles, passes, and shots. That's why I keep coming back to these verses season after season—they remind us that whether we're up by 20 or facing a comeback, what matters most isn't the final score but who we become in the process.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
