Basketball 

It is more than just a game; basketball and all sports can be a valuable tool for kids and young adults. Perserverance, dedication, teamwork, accountability, and leadership are all life lessons we can take away from sports.  

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As a kid I grew up in Southeast Alaska, where there was not much else to do growing up on a small island. My parents made sure to keep us kids active in church and sports, and out of trouble. Basketball quickly became a passion and big part of my life. I kept good grades so I could play basketball, I stayed active and in shape for basketball, and I grew more confident in myself as a leader and a young adult. 

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Growing up I struggled with my identity. I was tall and chubby and didn't have many close friends. Basketball gave me a taste of self-worth and what it truly meant to work hard for something you love. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel, times I didn't think my coach would ever give me the chance I thought I deserved. Even when faced with adversity and told that I was not good enough, I did not allow anyone to tell me I could not achieve my goals. So, I put in the extra work in the off-season to become the athlete that I wanted to be. I was at every open gym, learning from every veteran player I could. I had my dad, my aunt and uncles that all told me the same thing. "Elizabeth, you have to have a ball in your hand every day."

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After all of the off-season work I did, I came back to my junior year of high school and my coach gave me a starting spot at the beginning of the season, but then he took it away. I only started a few games and then I was told that my defense was keeping me from continuing on as a varsity starter. I was devastated, I wanted that spot more than anything, He turned around and gave it to the only senior on the team at that time. I was ready to quit and walk away, but I still did not let that detour me. I worked even harder during the regular season and the off season to make sure I showed myself and everyone else, what I was capable of. My dad told me to be the best "6 man" I could be and take advantage of every minute I was given. Even though I came off the bench, I played more minutes than the senior that took my starting spot. In the words of my dad, "it's not about who starts the game, but about who finishes the game."​

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My senior year of high school I became a part of what we called the "Core 4" we never stepped off the floor, (unless in foul trouble.) I averaged a double-double in points and rebounds, and almost a triple-double with my average for blocks at 8 blocks a game. I was a defensive powerhouse. I was told defense was my weakness, so I made it my strength, as a 6'-foot Center I made sure to own the key and shut it down. In a game against a 4A school who played down into our division, I blocked their first 8 shot attempts, 8 blocks in less than 6 minutes. We were a 1A school that played up into the 3A division. At Craig Highschool, the girls' basketball program had never seen a state floor. Mostly because we were a small school playing against other schools 3-4x our size.

In our 3A division we had; Sitka High school, Mount Edgecomb High School, Haines High School, Petersburg High school, Wrangell High School, Metlakatla High school, and my team Craig High School.

 

As a team we had made a goal at the beginning of the year that we were going to see a state floor, we were going to be "Regional Champions" for the first time in Craig history.

We only had the "Core 4" made up of 3 Seniors and 1 Junior, the rest of our team was made up of 5 Freshman and 1 Sophomore. Not only did we accomplish our goal, but we also went undefeated in our region and became undefeated regional champions for the first time in school history. I was ranked #15 in the state for scoring, one of the only Centers to even rank that year. I also went on to play for the Alaska Senior Allstar select team, where I was recruited to play college basketball and volleyball for Southwestern Oregon Community College. From there I moved on to play for Northwestern Indian college here in Whatcom County and thats a story for another time.