by By Dan Ninham
Change is a good for most athletes who transfer schools in high school. The drive and determination persevere in new surroundings. Support from family and coaches help smooth the transition.
Jalen Pointra, 17, is a junior at Dunseith HS in North Dakota.
“I compete for the Dunseith Dragons,” said Jalen. “My tribe is the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.”
“I started playing basketball in fifth grade at Ojibwa Indian School,” said Jalen. “I’ve competed in basketball at all levels in eight different states. My freshmen year, because of my hard work, I got moved up levels for the Turtle Mountain Community High School Braves. My sophomore year, I got moved up to full-time varsity and started four games during the season and started the last five games of the season. I averaged 8 ppg and 3 rpg under head coach Travis Azure.”
“I received the TMCHS Braves ‘Horizon Award’ as the upcomer player to watch out for. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I transferred to Dunseith High School for my junior year. My junior year I played varsity under head coach Eric Morin for the Dunseith Dragons,” added Jalen.
“I received the KEYA ‘Player of the Game’ in a game against the Rolla Bulldogs in the CNDC tournament,” said Jalen. “I also was awarded ‘Athlete of the Week’ by Starion Bank during the district tournament and an ‘All-District’ award for being one of the best athletes in my district.”
“At the end of my first year being a Dunseith Dragon, I was in the top 10 for scoring and was #1 in rebounding in my district,” added Jalen.
“As an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, I always take with me my background of growing up around my elders and learning the knowledge passed onto me through our seven teachings,” said Jalen. “As a student-athlete, two of the main ones I carry with me is ‘humility’ and always being humble, and nothing is given but earned and ‘bravery’ to just go out and battle.”
“People who positively influence me is my family, and my coach,” said Jalen. “They positively influence me by keep pushing every day to be the best I can be.”
“My mentor is my dad Joshua Poitra,” said Jalen. “My dad is a great mentor, he taught me everything I know about basketball. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
“During the pandemic in 2020, I was allowed individual gym time. My dad is the manager of a fitness facility, and he allowed me to get in facility during closed hours to do my strength training program. If I wasn’t able to get in, I would run at least a mile outside. I didn’t take any days off, I didn’t let the pandemic affect me at all,” added Jalen.
“Jalen had a workout ethic like no other once his body started to grow so fast,” said dad Joshua Poirtra. “Eighth grade came around and Jalen grew four to five inches that year and had a great season only losing one game. After that Jalen found a drive and hunger to become greater at what he does which was basketball.”
“As a certified trainer since 2016, I have always trained my son on many types of fitness training along with basketball skill development. From freshman year until now he has moved up a grade or further every year. He found his way into the starting line-up as a sophomore at Turtle Mountain and after transferring over to Dunseith, was an immediate starter and a top performer in all statistical columns,” added Joshua.
“While adjusting to the new school and change in school curriculum, Jalen found himself struggling with the new swing of things,” said Joshua. “He kept fighting and pushing through to get where he was at Turtle Mountain.”
“Jalen has become well known in our community and met friends all over through the sport of basketball,” said Joshua. “His teammates and his coaches have pushed Jalen to take over or whatever the case may be in a game situation. He has stepped up to the plate and he feels he has to work harder now to make sure his team is in the right position at the end of the game, whether it is a free-throw, to a block shot, to an assist.”
“Jalen makes sure his team has an opportunity. Jalen is a firm believer in the team. He has always said it takes five guys to win and everyone doing their job to be great and he pushes his teammates to believe in that too.”
“Jalen Poitra is an excellent kid with a work ethic that is unbelievable,” said Eric Morin, head boys basketball coach for the Dunseith HS Dragons. “He is willing to be in the gym seven days a week and put in the work. This drive has pushed other kids to be better players as he is always pushing other kids to be in the gym with him.”
“Jalen has all the tools that a basketball player needs to be a great basketball player. Not only is he a great basketball player but he is a great kid with a great attitude and he encourages his team to just play and enjoy the game,” added Eric.
“Jalen had a great season for us last season and we look forward to him being one of the main features of our Dragon basketball team next season,” said Eric.
“Through hard work and dedication, goals are achievable,” said Jalen.
Photo Credit: A&J Photography, Ft. Totten, ND
