'I try to remember and honor her the best I can'

The routine never changes. After the National Anthem, every St. Paul boys basketball game starts with a name written on a pair of shoes, a quick prayer and a finger pointed skyward. Right down to wearing her No. 11 on his jersey, Korey Frazee puts everything into honoring his late mother, Stephanie. After each game ends — win or lose — Korey finds his father, Steve. "He's my everything," Korey said. "What happened with my mom was tough. But Dad is my No. 1 supporter. He's my role model, best friend, and my coach on the floor and in life. "I love that man to death, and don't know what I'd do without him." Stephanie Frazee, 42, died in September 2020 after fighting cancer for more than six years. Left behind were husband Steve and children Korey and Kennedie. Stephanie and Steve Frazee both attended Buckeye Central High School, where she wore No. 11 in volleyball. Steve Frazee has helped coach Korey through grade levels of basketball at St. Paul, including the previous two seasons as a varsity assistant to head coach Steve Minor. For Korey's senior year and with Kennedie involved in swimming and softball, Frazee decided to simply watch his children compete. But his plan changed soon after he made that decision. The last four-plus months have been a whirlwind. "Every big game or big moment is emotional because you wish she was here, obviously," Korey said of his mother. "But I try to remember and honor her the best I can." Another big moment awaits the Frazee family Tuesday night when the Flyers (20-5) face Warren John F. Kennedy (16-9) in a Division VII regional semifinal at 8 p.m. in Barberton. The game will be the first in the Sweet 16 in 27 years. "I would love to be in the regionals and on the bench — but I also love just being 'dad' and not someone for Korey to come home and get yelled at about not slipping through a screen," Frazee said. "I don't know if it's better or not … but it feels like it is." Tough moments As sophomores, Korey and classmate Nolan McCall broke through as starters and helped lead the Flyers from six wins to 11 and a surprise sectional championship. Korey averaged 12.3 points that season and, with All-Ohioan Evan Wangler last season, the Flyers took another jump to 17 wins and the Firelands Conference co-title with Crestview. Although Korey averaged 10.6 points as a repeat All-FC and Northwest District selection, basketball life wasn't easy. Admittedly, he too often became outwardly angry over his missed shot attempts or other perceived mistakes. "He just put so much pressure on himself," Minor said. "Korey is a kid who wears his emotions on his sleeve, and I think he'd be the first to admit it got the better of him sometimes. "It wasn't a discipline type of thing, but he was putting the weight of the team on his shoulders." Minor recalls games last season where Korey would apologize because he felt he let down his teammates and coaches. "And we'd have to tell him it's not like that," he said. "Korey is a great kid. I don't know what goes on outside the basketball court. I don't know. But we're always there if he needs anything, and the same for his dad. They're just a great family." At times, Frazee thought maybe his presence as assistant coach was part of the problem. After going back-and-forth on the decision, he told Minor last March he was going to step away and just watch from the stands. Frazee wasn't off the court for long, however, as he took on the head coaching job for the Lady Flyers this season. The position meant more time but also was a schedule that allowed him to watch both Korey and Kennedie. "It's just so different now," he said. "I don't know how to explain it, because it's really tough some nights. But at the same time, it's been so much fun just being able to watch (the boys) and not be a coach. Coach Minor does a great job of letting these guys play. It's an adjustment, but it's definitely worked out." Banner year Over the summer, Korey decided to play football for the first time in high school. He earned his way into a starting position in the offensive backfield and defensive secondary. The Flyers overcame an 0-3 start and shocked Monroeville with no time on the clock in Week 10 to earn a share of the FC championship. This winter, Kennedie's sophomore swim season saw her break a 25-year-old program record in the 200-yard individual medley. She also reached the Div. II district championships in multiple events, and is on the bench with her dad as the girls basketball team manager. When boys basketball got under way in late November, Korey had let the pressure go. With continued improvement by McCall and junior Landon Fries and sophomore Grant Kuhnle as additional scorers, roles changed. With his father watching from the stands, the game became easier for Korey. Although his scoring average dropped to 9.5 points from the previous two years, the results are hard to ignore. The Flyers have won 14 straight games entering Tuesday's regional matchup. "Obviously he went through some adversity in his life at a young age," Frazee said. "I never forced him into playing football, but I'm so grateful that he did because he loved it so much. That has carried over to basketball, where he's not so hard on himself. "He's depending on his teammates more … I just couldn't be prouder. He still has almost a 4.0 grade-point average and is a good kid having a great senior year." Minor was briefly worried Korey would look to his father in the stands this season if something didn't go right. "That's never happened once, and that tells me he's handling things and has matured so much in a short amount of time," he said. "Korey and Nolan both took on a lot as sophomores, and these are high-school kids who handle things in different ways. "No team is ever the same. The talk going into this season was that we won't be able to replace Evan Wangler, and that is very true. I was the first to admit that. But different kids stepped in, and Korey's role has helped put him at ease. It's been great to watch, and I'm so happy for him." Finding Dad As part of his routine this season, Korey seeks out his father after each game, even if he has to jump on a stage in older gymnasiums such as South Central and Tiffin Calvert to get to him. He gets a quick hug and some words about the game. Last week, though, Korey, in a bit of a panic, had to find his dad before the start of the district semifinal game against Buckeye Central at Shelby. "I forgot my shoes, and he went back (home) and got them for me," Korey said. "He's just a special guy who is always there for me. In sports, we always talk about stepping up and being a leader, and that's what he did in our household. "There were a lot of questions [after Stephanie's death], but I love that man to death and would do anything for him." Korey's senior project, during Christmas break, was a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that raised more than $1,000 for When Pigs Fly and the Piggyback Foundation. The two local entities support patients and families facing the pressures of cancer care. "I try to do what I can to give back to When Pigs Fly because they were so generous to us," Korey said. "We had just moved to Norwalk, and they didn't know who we were. They really took care of us when my mom was sick." Now, in the last two weeks, the Flyers have cut down nets to celebrate winning FC, sectional and district titles. The FC celebration also came on Senior Night. "He didn't have to say anything, but I know that was tough," Minor said. "That was a night Korey got pretty emotional, and it clicked in my head right away as to why. "As a coach, you have to remember those types of things, but he's just handled it so well. I don't think I would be able to handle things the way he did. Korey is a tough kid, and we wouldn't be where we are without him." Putting into words what this historic season has meant is hard to do, Korey noted, especially with classmates who have played together since fifth grade. He realizes that additional difficult moments are ahead as graduation and moving on to study early-childhood education at Bowling Green State University lay ahead. "It feels great to be a part of it, and there are some real tough moments for sure," Korey said. "But I tell myself, through the grace of God, our mom is able to watch over us. I'm sure she's cheering in heaven, and anyone around her is probably mad about how much she screams and yells. "It's comforting, knowing she's watching over me."