For Knar family, hoops an all-consuming passion

Board games don't leave 18-year-old Toni Knar bored at all.

The Mundelein senior loves them, and is always asking her family to play a few rounds.

But Toni's twin brother, Dickie, a junior at Mundelein, would sometimes rather draw. He also loves to fish and play his new guitar.

Meanwhile, younger brother Robert, a freshman at Mundelein, is really into golf, scooters and bikes.

"Our parents are totally supportive of whatever we want to do," Dickie said. "If we wanted to do ballet, if we wanted to play an instrument, they'd be fine with it."

And yet, despite a variety of interests, the Knar children - not a single one of them - are into anything more than they are basketball.

Then again, how could they be? Basketball is in their genes, in their hearts and prominently in their home.

"Basketball was never forced on us," Robert said. "But part of loving it so much started with being around it so much."

Hanging from the walls of the Knar's well-equipped, nicely finished basement (the area of the house where the kids hang out most), are dozens of pictures and plaques and posters of various basketball teams over the years.

Some are of teams that Toni played on, some are Dickie's teams, others feature Robert and his teammates.

Much of the memorabilia features the kids' dad, Dick Knar.

Knar is the head boys basketball coach at Mundelein and can tell a story about every single team from his program that is pictured in his basement.

Gazing at pictures that often include his sons as ball boys, he can remember countless details from each season, just as he can recall specific games that his dad coached at the college level years ago.

"My dad coached basketball for 32 years," Knar said. "I grew up on a bench, and my kids kind of did the same thing. Basketball is just a big part of our lives."

And this winter, a lifetime of hoop dreams and anticipation was supposed to hit a pinnacle.

The Knars were primed to have their best basketball season yet, a family affair so unique and inclusive that it aptly suited such a basketball-loving family. They would have three players on varsity and one varsity coach, all at the same time, all at the same school.

"Everyone was talking about how this was going to be such a special season," Toni said.

Toni, a senior at Mundelein, was ready for her last hurrah. Already one of the best players on her team, her plan was to carry the Mustangs further into the state tournament than ever before.

Meanwhile, the boys, Dickie and Robert, would get their first opportunity to not only play with each other on the varsity, but also play together for their dad.

Robert made the Mundelein varsity as a freshman.

"When Dick and I first dated in 1983, we talked about what it would be like if we had kids and they played basketball, and what if we had boys who could play together for him," said mom Theresa Knar, who isn't overly tall but goes by Tree, which is still an appropriate nickname considering her family's favorite pastime. "Well, that time finally came this year and it was so hard to believe. We got so excited to see the boys play together and to watch Toni play her last season."

Well, one out of two ain't bad.

Toni, a gritty guard, started her season by blowing out her knee. It happened in the fall, just days after she committed to Missouri Science and Technology for basketball, and days before her first game of the regular season.

"I hurt myself going in for a layup (during a fall league basketball game)," Toni said. "I just remember asking if I made the basket."

At first, Toni didn't know the extent of her injury, only that her knee hurt when she tried to walk on it. Doctors eventually discovered quite a bit of damage and determined that she would need season-ending knee surgery.

"I was in school when I found out (about the surgery)," Toni said. "I cried so hard. I couldn't even finish fourth period. It was terrible. I was so sad."

But Toni is already finding happiness in a rehab that is way ahead of schedule. And perhaps nothing makes her smile more these days than watching her brothers play together, for her dad.

"I love being a part of those games," Toni said. "I love watching them play. I love watching my dad coach them. I'm so happy for all of them."

Dickie, Robert and their dad have plenty to be happy about themselves.

Together, they've made Mundelein into one of the most dangerous boys teams in the North Suburban Conference. The high-scoring, high-energy Mustangs are 15-7 overall and have won their last two games, including a significant confidence-booster against perennial power Zion-Benton last weekend.

Dickie, the team's top defender, is one of the first players off the bench while Robert, a sharpshooting three-point threat, has actually made his way into the starting lineup.

Remember: he's just a freshman. But already, he's one of the team's leading scorers. In fact, he scored a career-high 32 points, including 6 three-pointers, in a win over Marian Central over the holidays.

"Getting to play with your brother is really cool," Dickie said. "It's a bond you get to share. Seeing Robert grow out on the court has been great. It's fun to watch him doing so well.

"I always knew he was going to be good."

On paper, Robert has been better than Dickie, which explains how little brother is starting over big brother.

Awkward? Sometimes. The source of tension? Not really. Dickie says he would never let a starting spot come between family.

"It's just so mature of him, a very mature way to handle things," said Robert, who patted his heart gently to show he was deeply touched. "It makes me feel so good to know that I have my brother's support. It says a lot about him because I know (that if the roles were reversed) I would have a harder time with it."

At times, Dickie still does. He hasn't given up his own dream of hearing his name called in the starting lineup.

"I guess right now, it's an internal struggle," Dickie said.

"I don't really talk about it much. When we get home, it's like you flip a switch, because at home (the starting lineup) is not something to worry about."

Ah, something the Knars care about more than basketball - family.