by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“The Dragon Way” of Dunseith Public Schools (ND) has three school-wide expectations: “Take care of yourself, others and your environment.” These expectations apply to team athletics and academics as well as other areas of the school.
Brailyn Davis is a multi-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track for the Dunseith HS Dragons, Dunseith, ND. As a basketball player, she earned the ‘All District’ player award twice averaging a ‘double-double’ during the season. She has been on varsity since eighth grade starting the last two seasons. She averaged 13.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2.5 steals a game. Brailyn led the state in Class B rebounds last season with 14 rpg and also led in block shots. She is a letter winner in volleyball twice, leading the team in kills and blocks, and also competes in track, throwing the discus, shot put, and javelin.
Brailyn is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Her parents are Nicole and Wally DeCoteau and they live in Dunseith, ND.
“My parents Nicole and Wally push me to achieve to be the best player I can be,” said Brailyn. “They are my biggest supporters and are always there for me good or bad. They are also my hardest critics to help me improve my game, and they were former athletes who know what it takes to become a good athlete. Also my grandparents Timmy and Laurie Davis always support and cheer me wherever I go.”
Mom Nicole said: “Brailyn displays leadership on the court by always being positive no matter the situation. She started the summer of her seventh grade year in plyometrics to improve her speed and coordination. She seen the benefits of that summer and what it did for her and her value in the team, she continues working during the off-seasons to improve her individual game. That translates to helping her team.”
“Off the court she is a member of the student council and student liaison and she gives tours of the school. She shows incoming high school students the school and what different types of classes they offer at DHS. She helped with food distribution for the food pantry. She also helped with valentines for the nursing home. These are some of examples of the person Brailyn is,” added Nicole.
“Her dedication to the sport is never wavering and she will do what ever she needs to play,” said Nicole. “An example of this would be last season when she had an allergic reaction the day before a game. She not only played the next night, but she helped with a team victory. As a parent I could not be more proud of the young lady she is becoming.”
Dad Wally said: “Brailyn shows leadership everyday in life being the oldest of our three children. She has two younger brothers, who look to her as an example of how to be in life. She shows her younger brother Nelson how to be a good basketball player and how to work hard. She is an excellent student, always going above and beyond to improve in school and as a person. She is respectful and very dependable.”
“On the court she has that same philosophy, she puts her team first, whether it’s passing up a shot for herself and getting the ball to a teammate who has a better shot. She hustles and leaves it all on the court not only in games but in practice as well. She is a perfectionist when it comes to herself, always wanting to get better to help the team. Brailyn is a real team-first person. She is always willing to help her younger teammates and is a big supporter of them. This will help her in life and if she choices to pursue college athletics,” added Wally.
Grandma Laurie Davis speaks for both Grandpa Timmy and herself and she said: “Brailyn has been playing basketball, volleyball and track since she was very young. We as her grandparents have always been her biggest fans and always supported and encourage her to continue to put her best effort in and no matter what we will always love her and be proud of her. Brailyn has always been a very dedicated athlete on- and off-season and is always looking for ways to work and improve her game. We always encourage her to do her best in her academics because that’s what is most important. Sports are a privilege and she kept her promise to us since she made the ‘All Academic team’ this year. Brailyn always has a big support system with her parents, younger brothers, aunties and cousins that are in the stands cheering her on. Brailyn is a great role model to her little brothers and cousins who look up to her and she is always giving them time and attention to teach them how to play the game of basketball which she has grown to love.”
“Brailyn is a very respectable young lady and has always shows respect to her coaches, teammates, opponents and referees. She is always willing to help where she is needed and volunteers her time at school and in our community. She has never let anything or anyone discourage her from achieving her goals. Brailyn isn’t afraid to get in the gym and put the time in to help improve her athletic skills. We are very, very proud grandparents and she is giving us so much joy and happiness watching her play sports,” added Grandma Davis.
“Our core values are respect, wisdom, love, bravery, and humility,” said Brailyn. “These core values come into play in my athletic career. I respect all values of the game and I show teammates, coaches and opponents by having good sportsmanship. I use wisdom by helping my younger teammates with our philosophy of the team. I just plain love all the aspects of basketball and how younger players look up to me. Bravery is how I go out and compete for my team and do what ever my team needs to win. Humility I use this to take coaches to improve on my weaknesses.”
“My coach John Demery taught me so much about the game and the little things I need to improve on,” said Brailyn. “He always supports me and builds my confidence with positive words and shows that he cares I just love coach.”
“Braylin leads by example,” said John Demery, head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Dunseith HS. “She lets her work ethic and positive attitude lead her teammates. She is not real vocal when it comes to leading but she will get vocal when she feels we need it. She is another player I am blessed to coach because of her positive attitude and how coachable she is. She is our defensive anchor and rim protector because of excellent help defense and her rebounding ability gets our transition game started.”
“I really believe Braylin is going to have a breakout season next season because I know she is going to put in the time this summer and do the things that are going to help her improve to take her game to the next level,” added Coach John.
“Brailyn Davis is a multi-sport athlete at Dunseith High School,” said Deb Austin, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher. “She works hard not only on the court but also in the classroom. This year both in volleyball and basketball our teams had to leave before the end of the school day for games out of town. Brailyn made sure she knew what she missed and got it completed in a timely manner. She is one who asks questions when she doesn’t understand as she has that desire to understand concepts and do well in school. Brailyn is a member of our high school leadership team. In February she was a team leader guiding a group of students from session to session during our Career and Technical Education Career Day.”
Brailyn continues to have the desire to improve during the COVID-19 time we are in. “During the pandemic, I’ve been running in my drive way, running in my basement, running house stairs, and doing lunges, push ups, squats and squat jumps,” said Brailyn. “I’ve also been shooting on the garage rim.”
Brailyn has words of wisdom for other student-athletes who want to perform at a high level. She said: “If they love the game they need to put in the work,” said Brailyn. “Also remember they are student athletes and school comes first.”
Photo Credit: Turtle Mountain Star of Rolla, ND
