The Chrisco sisters can’t remember having a choice to play basketball.

So it’s a good thing Trella, a Napa High senior, and sophomore sister Rayna enjoy the game.

Having each played since they were in the fourth grade, they have helped the Indians’ varsity basketball team to a 5-1 Monticello Empire League (12-6 overall) record that has Napa in a first-place tie with Wood.

Trella and Rayna started playing basketball for their dad Tim, who coached them in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ball.

“I think I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” Rayna said. “I’m really glad that he did that because I really enjoy it now.”

Fortunately for the two — and Indians head coach Darci Lewis — the girls play different positions. Lewis describes Trella as “a tireless point guard” while Rayna “has the best footwork of any post player” on the team.

Trella is leading the Indians with 9.9 points per game, as well as 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals. She also grabs 2.2 rebounds a game, same as her sister.

Trella also leads Napa with 14 3-pointers.

Rayna, meanwhile, averages 1.4 points a game and just under one assist and one steal a night.

“(Trella’s) one of the girls who rarely comes out of the game,” Lewis said. “I have to force myself to take her out of the game. She’s very consistent and smart. Most of the time, she’s very composed. She doesn’t make those typical errors that most athletes make. She’ll have an occasional turnover now and then, but it’s very rare.

“Rayna’s been huge because we’ve had so many post players injured. She’s solid. She’s got great moves to the bucket. She works hard on rebounding. She’s like her sister, she’s very coachable. She listens and works hard. I love coaching them.”

Lewis is used to working closely with her sister on the basketball court, too.

She’s assisted by younger sister Michelle Lewis and both played basketball at Napa. Darci sees a lot of similarities between Trella and Rayna that she and Michelle possess.

“I consider my sister my best friend. She’s someone who’s very close to me. Rayna and Trella have that trust — they’re just much sweeter with each other,” Darci joked. “I think with sisters, I care about my sisters more than anything, but I’ll get in bigger arguments with them than anyone.

“With Rayna and Trella, they’ve handled it so maturely playing on the same team together. They’ve been very supportive of each other.”

Trella is the middle daughter of three, just like Darci, while Michelle and Rayna are the babies.

Unsure of how they’d feel, Darci approached Trella and Rayna before the season about bringing Rayna up to the varsity level. Both were thrilled about playing together, as they’d played on AAU teams with one another in the past.

And so far, so good. Darci is amazed the two haven’t fought once during practice or games, which she admits is almost strange for sisters.

“We get along pretty well,” Trella said. “We’re closer as a family than most siblings of what I see. We do have our usual sister fights. All in all we’re still pretty nice to each other.”

Rayna added, “We’re pretty close. I think being on the same basketball team has really helped us get along as well.”

Because they’ve played together for so many years, they have a bit of an advantage because they can anticipate one another’s moves on the court.

There isn’t really any rivalry between the sisters but both admit that they push each other to play harder and better.

“To be able to talk to each other about what we need to work on and stuff is nice,” Rayna said. “She knows my weaknesses and I know her weaknesses. So we play more to each other’s weaknesses so we become stronger.”

Trella added, “I feel more competitive with her than a lot of other girls on the team. I know her level so I know what she can do and I know what I can do.”

Trella is a two-year starter for the Indians and Darci Lewis has noticed several positive improvements in her since her junior season.

“She’s much more confident this year,” Lewis said. “She’s willing to take on more challenges. She believes in herself more. She’s more vocal and more of a leader this year then she was last year.”

Because of that, Trella was named one of the team’s captains. She starts every game and rarely rests. Even when Napa has a significant lead and the other four starters are resting, Trella is usually still running the show from point.

If she needs a minute to catch her breath, Trella knows all she has to do is let Lewis know — but rarely does she have to.

“I think everyone on the team looks up to Trella,” Darci said. “She works hard and I never have to say go harder, she automatically does it. Everyone knows she’s a leader. She’s been in a lot of tough game situations; she’s got a lot of experience in that. She handles it very well.

“I think she has a really powerful affect on her teammates. Our younger guards really look up to her and watch her during drills and games. All the other guards know how hard they have to work and I think Trella is a big part of that.”

Rayna is among six sophomores on the varsity squad.

Lewis is looking forward to that group’s senior year in anticipation that it will be similar to the Indians’ 2006 class. That’s when Napa had five senior starters and was runner-up for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division I championship as well as NorCals.

But that’s not to say the Indians won’t make the postseason this year.

Tied for first in league and with a winning overall record, Napa is getting stronger in the power rankings.

“They both kind of bring up the level of play,” Darci said. “You don’t have to ask them to work hard, they just do.”