It’s simple, but effective.

Before each practice, a player will use a piece of white chalk to write an inspirational message on a hand-held chalk board.

That person also reads it later to the team.

Last Thursday, it was Heidi Schneller’s turn to be prophetic, as well as uplifting.

The quote: “Success is no accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all — love of what you are doing.”

Those words were carefully chosen by her and for good reason — they describe this year’s Flathead Valley Homeschool girls basketball team to a T.

“I found it on the Internet,” Schneller, a 5-foot-3 freshman guard, said of the quote.

“It’s by Pele.

“I really didn’t know who he was,” she admitted.

So she Googled his name to learn more.

“He’s a Brazilian football player, soccer star,” she discovered.

“I think it’s a really neat idea,” Schneller said of the quote for each practice.

“It gets the team inspired.”

The Crusaders, after struggling through a couple of tough seasons, are back on top in the Western Division of the Montana Christian Athletic Association thanks to a hard-working, determined-group of fun-loving girls. FVHS is 15-4 overall on the season and 4-0 in league play.

The Crusaders have won 10 straight and take the No. 1 Western Division seed to the state tournament in Great Falls. Play begins Thursday with the Crusaders facing Bozeman’s Gallatin Valley Homeschool at 4:30 p.m. in the opening round.

“It depends, to be honest,” Schneller said of her being on the court for the opening tipoff or sitting on the bench with her teammates and coaches.

“If the seniors start, I won’t.”

Schneller has been instrumental in helping FVHS return to its winning ways. She directs a fast-paced offensive attack with her nifty ballhandling skills and crisp passing.

And every now and then her scoring will shine through. She tallied a season-high 18 points in Spokane back in December versus The Oaks.

“I had a lot of steals, fastbreak layups,” she said of that game.

“And free throws.”

She also starts on the JV squad, which is 15-0.

“It’s gets pretty exhausting,” she said of playing in JV and varsity games the same day.

“But we do a lot of hard work in our practices and that pays off.

“It can be challenging at times,” she continued.

“It’s a different level of play between the JV and varsity, but I really enjoy the challenge.”

Speaking of challenges the team’s biggest one of the season is this weekend.

“To be the No. 1 seed heading into the state tournament is a huge advantage,” she said.

“We knew we had a strong team coming into the season. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but everyone has helped with that and it’s all come together.”

At the right time.

She said the victory over Stillwater Christian School still stands out as the season high point.

“First time in eight years,” she said.

And FVHS won both games.

“We had high hopes heading into that (first) game,” 5-7 senior power forward Lexi Ehlers said of the first Stillwater matchup.

“We laid it all out there, win or lose, so we wouldn’t have any regrets. A lot of girls stepped up in that game.”

FVHS prevailed 43-41 at Stillwater Christian on Jan. 8. Ehlers had 17 points, Victoria Hanson 10 and Schneller five.

FVHS won the second meeting on Jan. 29 at West Valley 37-32. Ehlers had seven points in that one and Schneller four. Karissa Williams led the team with 13 points.

“It’s gone better this year than all the years I have played here,” Ehlers said.

“Even if we don’t win state, I still say it’s been a great year.”

The difference with this team in comparison to the others she’s played on ... “We’re a lot more confident,” she said.

“Last year we got intimidated in pressure situations. This year we learned to push through it, stay focused.”

The opportunity to play for her father, Donn, the last two years has made her prep experience more meaningful.

“I like it. He knows what to tell me and how to push me harder,” she said.

“We’re getting closer through basketball. It’s kind of our little thing.”

A much bigger thing still awaits Heidi, Lexi, their teammates and coaches. Three victories in the Electric City would crown the Crusaders state champions. That would be something they have not accomplished since dominating the MCAA with state titles from 2005-2008.