Tom Fedor/The Gazette New Life Christians Joe Stopyra drives to the hoop during the title game of the Tuscarora Shootout on July 12. New Life rarely competes against public school teams in Frederick County.

Ready to end the deliberating, Connor Browns parents walked around their 6-acre Damascus property and discussed their sons future. The question at hand: Would he attend Broadfording Christian Academy or New Life Christian School?

Connor had long planned to attend Broadfording in Hagerstown, where he could play basketball with an older cousin. For years, they'd discussed playing together on the same high school team and then college and NBA teams. New Life Christian in Frederick was, well, closer to home.

As his parents walked, Brown nervously shot on his outdoor basketball hoop. Eventually, they returned with plans for Browns sophomore year after spending two years at Bullis.

So, which one is it? Brown said.

Its the Rams, they said, referring to New Life's mascot.

Initially, Brown was a bit upset not to play with his cousin, but now a rising senior, he and his brother Austin, a rising junior, have helped lift New Lifes basketball profile.

Were just working hard every day trying to build this program up, make it something that around Frederick County that kids want to, Oh yeah, I want to go to New Life, Brown said.

New Life was 21-9 last year, winning the Mason Dixon Christian Conference regular-season title and reaching the Division 1 Maryland Christian School Tournament for the first time. With the Browns and Seth Myers a rising senior who transferred from Oakdale before last season returning, New Lifes ambitions are higher than ever.

We never want to be a Montrose or anything like that, Bryant said. We just want to be a competitive team within the county.

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Gazette.Net: New Life Christian basketball elevates profile