by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Basketball teams that are playing at the .500 level hope to improve as the season progresses.
The Cass Lake-Bena HS Panthers boys basketball team is at the top of a wave again in their schedule in Minnesota Class A Section 8 East boys’ basketball. The Panthers’ lost both games against central MN teams in the Granite City Classic in St. Cloud, MN during the recent winter break. They followed with two games in the win column. The top CLB scorer in these wins was Jarell Jacobs with 29 and 27 points.
Jarell “George” Jacobs is a senior, 6-1, guard at Cass Lake-Bena High School, Cass Lake, MN. The team’s record is 6-5 and Jarell’s per game averages are 26 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
“We are a young team with two eighth graders stepping up and making a name for themselves and a sophomore playing big minutes doing a little of everything on the offensive end and defensive end,” said Jarell.
“I’m an enrollee from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe out of Cass Lake, MN. My Dad, George Jacobs is a member of Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and my mom, Angel Wind is a member of the Bois Fort Band of Ojibwe,” added Jerell.
“The Seven Grandfather teachings is something I go over every year with my Ojibwe teacher Charles Grolla,” said Jarell. “Respect, Honesty, Bravery, Truth, Love, Humility, and Wisdom are things I try to live by everyday so I’m able to bring it on the court because I believe these are key things to being a good leader and setting a good example for not only myself but for the community.”
“Jarell demonstrates a natural leadership in my classes,” said Charles Grolla, CLBHS Ojibwe Language teacher. “Jarrell’s Indian name is ‘Binesi (bird)’ and his clan is ‘Ma’iingan (wolf).’ Jarell learned the Ojibwe-style moccasin game very easily and leads my classes in teaching our ancient game to other students. He leads class exercises and is a natural leader. Jarrell’s mastery of the moccasin game is earned and is respected at his age level. Ojibwe-style moccasin game is a complex game that can only be learned by playing it. A lot like the Ojibwe language, and it is very complex.”
“I respect Jarrell’s integrity, leadership skills, people skills, all while he is attaining good grades and being successful in gaining his high school education,” said Charles. “All these aspects compliment his good sportsmanship, leadership, and skills on the basketball court.”
“Jarell is a pleasure to have in class and helps in many ways in a leadership role and as an assistant,” added Charles.
Alvin John Wind, varsity head basketball coach at CLB, said: “Jarell started showing advanced basketball skills and abilities at early age. As an eighth-grade player, he was asked to play JV for the Cass Lake-Bena boys’ basketball team. By end of year, Jarell was playing minutes on the varsity team that would finish with a 24-4 record. Jarell’s ninth grade year was more learning and experience gathering by a young 14-year old. The team was again in the mists of the upper teams in the Section. In Jarell’s 10th grade year playing with a mix of other great senior 1000 point players Noah Delopaz, Arnold Kingbird, Ethan Brown and 900 point scorer Jarod Brown, the State Class A tournament was their goal. Cass Lake-Bena finished 4th at State with 30-3 record. Jarell became a leader and role model for young boys and girls in those years and the two that followed. Jarell currently has 1400 + career points for his high school career. Jarell benefited not only from having advanced skills and abilities but also from learning from other past good-to-great players that played for Cass Lake-Bena boys basketball teams. Jarell played alongside 900-point scorer Terek Frazer, and alongside his 1600+ point scorer cousin Alvin Wind III and cousins Mark, Michael and Miguel Reyes. All good teammates and ball players. Today Jarell is one of the young leaders in the area. He takes his leadership roles and responsibilities seriously and with heart to make a difference. He believes in a healthy body and balance in his everyday life. Jarell is very good and caring of the area reservations youth and their success. He always is one of the first to volunteer if it has to do with working with younger student-athletes. Today Jarell still is accepting his role and he sacrifices offensively in order for his team to focus on defense that is just as important. To get to the State Tournament for a second time in his HS career, he knows that his and his teammates defense must upgrade to compete with the top 10 teams in Class A. Jarell is aware that for him to go onward to play at the college level he must sharpen up his defensive skills and help teammates do the same for the team to be balanced and have success as the 2018 team had.”
“Jarell Jacobs is in the weight room every morning at 6 am and shooting game shots,” said Martin Wind, former varsity assistant boys’ basketball coach and first-year varsity girls head coach at CLB. “At 6:30am he will be doing our weightlifting program to 7:30 am then he will go back and shoot until the last minute he can before school starts. Jarell is always willing to learn something new, and once you show him something new, he will be in the gym until he can do it.”
“I have watched Jarell play ball since he was in the fifth grade,” said LeRoy Fairbanks, Leech Lakers youth basketball director. “From an early age I could see he was a very talented ball player and knew he was going to be leader on the court. He has natural leadership attributes and a lot of the younger players follow his lead. He has the skill set to play ball at the next level and looking forward to watching him play college ball somewhere. I know he has his sights set on a state tournament this season, and I believe he is the leader the team needs to help get them there.”
“When Jarell was in the eighth grade he would come to morning weight training workouts,” said Mike Hanson, CLB Strength and Conditioning Coach. “I remember always having to go down to the gym to chase him back in the weight room to make sure he got everything done that was on the program for that day. All he wanted to do is go out in the gym and shoot and work on his game, and now in the present it has changed. He’s a senior and to me he shows leadership by what the things he does extra to make himself that much better. People don’t get to see Jarell being in the gym in the off-season at 6 am working on his mid-range pullups that we have all come to see now when he plays. People don’t realize that I can count on my one hand the amount of morning workouts this young man has missed in the five years that I have been working with him during the basketball season. Just by what he has been doing day in and day out in the mornings has set a standard for the young guys on the team and Jarell has helped them realize how important doing the extra stuff is to be great.”
Photo Credits: Eugene StandingCloud, Crookedarrow Photography
