by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Jordan Jefferson is a member of the Crow Nation (Apsaalooke) and the Assiniboine Tribe. She is also Greasy Mouth and Child of Piegan. Her Crow name is “Iishuushaa’ kooshiish” meaning “Whistling Plume”, given to her by Henry Pretty On Top. Jordan’s parents are Amica and Jeff Jefferson Jr., and they live in Lodge Grass, Montana also known as “Valley of the Chiefs”.
“I am a 15 year old sophomore at Lodge Grass High School,” said Jordan. “I enjoy playing volleyball and basketball. I also play on an AAU travel team with G.O. Hoops (Gifted Outliers) under Mecklen Davis and Justin Reynolds going on five years.”
As a freshman in basketball Jordan was selected as Second Team All-Conference, and Team Captain. She was given the Sportsmanship Award at Southern B District Tournaments.
This past season year in basketball she was selected as First Team All-Conference and All-State, and was Team Captain.
This season she scored 383 points with 31 three-point field goals and 16 points per game.
Jordan was awarded Most Improved as a freshman volleyball player. As a sophomore, she was awarded Best Offensive Player.
She is a member of the National Honor Society maintaining a 3.7 G.P.A. or higher. She also is a Little Big Horn Chapter FFA member for the past two years. In addition she held the secretary position for the LGHS Student Council for two years.
“I am proud to be Crow and I am proud to represent my people wherever I go,” said Jordan. “I am still young myself, but I have many younger than me who look up to me. So setting a good example is important to me. Respecting my elders, and those that have paved the way for us.”
“My ‘kaakikke’ (grandfather) was my biggest support,” said Jordan. “Ever since I can remember he followed me. He was always in the stands or had his lawn chair ready to watch if it was outside. Didn’t matter where it was he did his best to be there. Losing him was one of the hardest things I had to endure. I miss him yelling, ‘C’mon Jor!’ and encouraging me, giving me advice, whistling at me from the sidelines. Since he’s been gone my ‘kalaas’ (grandmothers) Cheryl and April have carried on that same support and love, I am blessed to have them in my life, they have taught me what it takes to be a strong, self-motivated and resilient Crow woman.”
“My dad has been a huge influence on me,” said Jordan. “He has been there since the first time I played basketball. He motivates me every day, tells me to give it my all in practice, he believes how you practice will determine how you play. We go to the gym together when he’s not working, with Shantell, Tyressa, Shekina, Trevonna and my sister Dani. He is constantly critiquing me and helps me focus on areas I need improvement.”
“We work on drills over and over, believing that it’s not what you do often but what you do consistently that makes a difference. I know when people think of positive influences they automatically think of a celebrity of some sort. For me it’s been my dad, it’s not always easy hearing his constructive criticism but it works. He’s real big on defense. He’ll tell me, ‘Get in-front of her, get in her face, make it hard for her, make her work for it, and tire her out’. I think it works too because I always found myself guarding the tough ones. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my dad guiding me and helping me along the way,” said Jordan.
“I was asked once by one of Jordan’s coaches how I instilled in my daughter’s work ethic practice, their determination to do whatever it takes to win, the passion and desire they have to be better than they were yesterday and the heart they have to be the best player they can be,” said Jordan’s dad and coach Jeff Jefferson, Jr.
“Jordan progressed with her shooting, her dribbling, her passing and her defense,” said Jeff. “Her sixth grade year she made the ‘A’ squad for the Wyola Wildcats where she helped win the teams first SEAAC Championship in 29 years.”
“The summer of 2016 is when she pushed herself to be more of a contributing player rather than just a member of the team,” said Jeff. “She increased her conditioning sessions, trying to perfect her drills, traveling more and further for tournaments with various teams, playing in high grade levels to gain experience. Her seventh grade year she transferred back to Lodge Grass and earned a spot on the ‘A’ squad for the Lady Indians where she helped lead the team to a 17-1 record and brought back a SEAAC Championship for Lodge Grass. This was Jordan’s second SEAAC title and with it she earned her first MVP honor.”
“After the season, she immediately started increasing all her workout regiments,” said Jeff. “Jordan spent more time traveling to tournaments, when we told her to take a break and let her body rest and heal, she would she say, ‘I can’t, I don’t want people to say I lucked out this year, I want people to say I earned everything.’”
“Eighth grade year was a bumpy road as injuries and personal issues slowed the process to repeat as champions,” said Jeff. “They would finish the regular season 9-5 and went into the tournaments as a #4 seed. Remembering how much work she put in, all the sacrifices she made, how hard it was to get where she was at personally, she helped lead the Lady Indians back to the SEAAC championship, winning their second title for the second year in a row, this was Jordan’s third SEAAC title, also with it her second MVP honor. At the school awards banquet, I remember her saying, ‘Everything she did, was worth it.’”
“During the off-season before Jordan’s freshman year we did our usual work outs to stay in shape and to prepare for the high school level including running, conditioning drills and various stationary drills,” said Jeff. “We worked on areas where she needed improvement, individually. Stayed busy with summer leagues and went to tournaments with her traveling team.”
“The season was finally here, Jordan tried out for the varsity team,” said Jeff. “Before she went to the first day of try-outs I told her, ‘Everything is earned, nothing is given, give it your best and show the coach you can help the team.’ A week later she came home with tears in her eyes, she told us she made varsity and that she wished her ‘kaakikke’ (grandfather in Crow) was still here so she could tell him.”
“The first game of the season came along and she kept saying she was nervous,” said Jeff. “She said she was scared and said, ‘If I get the chance to play, I hope I don’t mess up.’ As they announced the starters for the game, her number and her name was yelled out, she ran out on the floor with big eyes and a pale look on her face, like she couldn’t believe she was a freshman and she was starting. She had a rough weekend, she didn’t play like she usually did, and it took a couple games to get her freshman jitters out. As the season went on she became more confident with every games, scoring more, rebounding more, playing better defense, hustling, trying to lead by example on the court.”
“One night Jordan came home after practicing, and said, ‘Guess what my coach said to me’,” said Jeff. “He said, ‘Jordan I know you’re just a freshman but you’re going to have to grow up quick, I need you to be more of leader, there’s a reason why I put you on this team, you need to be more vocal, push yourself harder, the harder you work, the harder they will work, you make players around better by giving everything you got and that’s what makes you a leader.’ We talked about what her coach said and what it meant. I told her that she was fortunate that her coach asked her of these things and that she should step up to the challenge. Jordan responded, ‘Why me though? I’m just a freshman and I’m still trying not to mess up and prove to them that I belong on this team.’”
“It was a long and frustrating season but a good learning experience for a freshman,” said Jeff. “The Lady Indians went into the 3B District Tournaments as a #4 seed, losing their first game but winning the next two games advancing to the consolation round. Jordan helped lead the Lady Indians to a fourth place finish, something that hasn’t been done since 2011. Jordan earned one of the sportsmanship awards for the 3B District Tournament, she was also selected as a second team All-Conference player for the 3B district.”
“Summer of 2018 we tried something different,” said Jeff. “Instead of traveling to tournaments with our usual summer teams, we hit the tournament trail with the Lady Indians. Trying to build a stronger relationship with the girls, build a strong bond within the team, conditioning, working out, practicing and doing a lot of other activities outside of the gym.”
“After a long and productive off season the season was finally here, it was a up and down kind of season, couple good wins then a couple tough losses, it was like that the whole season,” said Jeff.
“Jordan started becoming more of leader this year. Being more vocal to her teammates, encouraging them, on both ends of the court, knowing what needed to be done and executing them at practice and during games. The Lady Indians finished the regular season 9-10 and went into the district tournament in the #4 spot,” said Jeff.
“After winning their first game against a tough young Baker HS team they fell short in the semi-final game to the #1 Forsyth Dogies,” said Jeff. “They redeemed themselves by beating a tough Lame Deer HS team to advance to the consolation round for the second year in a row. Before the consolation game we talked about what she needed to do against a more experienced team like St. Labre. She knew she had to dig deep and give it everything she had if she wanted to move onto the divisional tournaments.”
“Scoring practically every time she had the ball, getting good defensive stops, out-rebounding bigger players, coming up with steals when they needed them, finding herself guarding the other team’s best players when they had the ball, plus keeping herself motivated and focused on winning. She led the Lady Indians to a third place finish and advancing them to a divisional tournament,” said Jeff.
“At the divisional tournament the Lady Indians lost two very tough games,” said Jeff. “Losing their first game by seven points to the #1 team in the state, Big Timber HS. Then losing their second game to a quick and talented Columbus team by two points.”
“It was the way we wanted to end our season. After gaining so much momentum from the district tournaments two weeks before we looked at it in a good way. We took it as taking a huge step in the right direction when you are trying to build a dominant and winning program,” said Jeff.
“I asked Jordan if she thought she made All-Conference again this year, she said, ‘I hope so, I worked my butt off this year to prove to everyone that doubted me that my selection last year wasn’t just a fluke’. A week after the state tournament was over, we received the All-Conference list via FaceBook from the coach. Jordan was selected as an All-State player receiving the third highest votes in our region and was also selected to the first team All-Conference as a sophomore.”
“Coach Cameron McCormick influenced me during the basketball season, he pushed me at every practice to always try to be better than I was yesterday,” said Jordan. “He always got on me even for the smallest things. I realized now he was only raising me to a higher standard to build character in me. He encouraged me to be a strong leader on the team.”
“It was a Saturday afternoon in Colstrip, MT and we had been soundly defeated by Forsyth HS and their six foot six inch center, Lindsay Hein,” said Cameron. “We had managed to fight our way back into the consolation final. Before us lay the opportunity to advance to the Southern B Divisional tournament that Lodge Grass had not done in nine years. Along the way I had been told to my face, ‘you’re the worst coach I’ve ever seen, ’and also ‘you better learn how to coach!’ This by the very parents and loved ones of my players themselves.”
Well, we still had this opportunity, but in the way stood none other than the St. Labre Lady Braves. Andy Elkshoulder had taken them to the state tournament twice and before that took the Northern Cheyenne boys to the State C tournament. Center Priscilla Flatmouth was averaging around twenty-two points per game.”
“After warm ups with the players approaching the bench before introductions of starting lineups, I emphasized to Jordan the St. Labre players could not guard her. She merely nodded her head but I interpreted this as that the message I had intended had been received,” added Cameron.
“It was a nip-and-tuck basketball game that featured high decibel level noise and a halftime score of 21-21. Along the way Jordan and LaRae led a hustling zone defensive attack. Jordan led a semi-balanced scoring attack and she ended with a team high sixteen points. I did my best to guide them with winning strategy with the help of my assistants especially Gary Stevenson,” said Cameron.
“The game’s pressure, atmosphere, heightened temperature, all did not ever dissipate,” said Cameron. “This truly was a competitive Montana high school tournament basketball game where the gym was packed and the teams gave it all they had. By the way, both teams were comprised of Native Americans.”
“We found ourselves tied with St. Labre 40-40 with around two and a half minutes to go,” said Cameron. “Before this with around four and a half minutes to go I noticed Shantell trying to lead them in stalling and holding onto the ball and running time off the clock. This resulted in our offense becoming stagnant and St. Labre would capitalize on this as Priscilla had a game high eighteen points. So I called timeout in order to instruct players to instead execute offensively and attacking the basket to score, as we did not have much of a lead yet. With four and a half minutes left there still was too much time to try to stall. Before I could utter a word or draw a diagram on my whiteboard, Jordan said to her teammates ‘It’s too early to stall.’ In this moment Jordan and I were in agreement and this is when good things happen for teams at least in my experience.”
“Finally, our dynamic freshman, Diamond Amyotte, made a vicious move to the basket and scored a layup off the glass in traffic,” said Cameron. “Then she followed this up by drilling a three-point shot from the right wing. We now were up 45-40 with about one minute and forty-five seconds remaining. Teegan Ewing scored a fifteen-foot jump shot on the other end. So with about a minute and a half left and the score 45-42, I called a timeout instructing players to run Phil Ford’s four corner delay offense in other words to stall.”
“We held on to win 46-42! This was the first time that the Lodge Grass girls had made it out of Districts since 2011,” added Cameron.
“AAU Coach Mecklen Davis was very supportive and encouraging, always believing in me and telling me that I can do better every game,” said Jordan. “He never forgets me and always checking on me. Last summer I lost a very close friend of mine. Coach was there for me and checked on me a lot.”
“When I think about Jordan Jefferson, the first thing that comes to mind is her relationship with God and her ability to continually walk by faith and not by sight,” said Mecklen. “I truly believe that is the biggest factor of her success on and off the court. To people that know her in the community she is known for her smile, her awesome hugs and her uncanny ability to brighten up a room with her presence.”
“What I have come to love about her is her competitive spirit and her tenacity on the court. I have had the pleasure of being able to coach and train Jordan in several capacities since she was going into 5th grade. Over the years I have watched both Jordan and her sister put in countless amount of hours perfecting their game,” added Mecklen.
“Over the past few summers Jordan has played for our G.O. Hoops travel teams,” said Mecklen. “There was a time in Denver where her and her teammates played up a grade and upset an Adidas Team from Texas to win the tournament. There was the time that we went to Las Vegas and won our first major AAU tournament defeating a feisty team from Mexico, but my favorite memory took place just few months back.”
“In early January I left from Bozeman in the early morning in route to Lodge Grass to watch many of our athletes play in the Lodge Grass/Hardin games,” said Mecklen. “Jordan has always talked about playing college ball and I knew that Hardin had a few college bound athletes in their roster so I was excited to watch her compete. As I walked into the gym I remember passing Jordan before she went to her locker room. She greeted me with her usual smile and big hug. I remember telling her, “I didn’t come here to watch you play scared, and you better show out.” She smiled and replied ‘I got you!’ It was the first high school game that I have been able to watch her play live. As I sat courtside I watched the fruits of her labor unfold right in front of me. She was applying all of the moves that I have watched her practice time and time again, either with me or with her father via social media, in game. Over the course of the game I watched Jordan make some spectacular plays mixed in with your typical sophomore mistakes.”
“After the game I remember reflecting on her performance and thinking about the talented roster she had just competed against,” said Mecklin. “Her performance was again indicative of her character, walking by faith not by sight. You see it’s Jordan’s faith and confidence in her God-given ability that sets her apart from other athletes. I have been fortunate to train some very talented athletes throughout the years. The athletes, like Jordan, that have faith in their abilities are the ones that go on to the next level in all areas of life. Jordan’s work ethic mixed with her strong faith and family support have allowed her to develop a confidence in herself that is contagious and makes everyone better on and off the court. It’s been a privilege to be on this journey with Jordan and her family.”
The holistic concept of wellness is based on maintaining physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health. High performance student-athletes need a balance to be at their best.
“Staying in shape year round is important to me,” said Jordan. “Once the regular season ends, travel season starts, then summer leagues start up. So I work out every chance I get, doing basketball drills, conditioning drills and running. Since being home recently I started a plyometric workout to stay in shape. I hope to be a strong leader on and off the court. I want to be encouraging to others. I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ, and I know that he is the one who blessed me with these talents and I give him all the glory. I pray every day, before every game and even during the game.”
“During a stressful game I try to be calm, focused and try not to get too excited or caught in the moment. I was always told, ‘stay focused during the game, play ball, not to buy into negativity, but be the better player with good sportsmanship, be a coachable player even when moments get tense.’ Being strong also means head strong, not letting anyone get in my head during the game,” added Jordan.
“With this Coronavirus pandemic going on we have a shelter-in-place order so I am mostly home,” said Jordan. “I started running and doing home workouts as well as shooting around to stay in shape. Keeping up with my chores at home. Spending time with my family. We aren’t able to go to the gym and it feels weird, I am so used to my dad saying, ‘let’s go’ and we head to the gym. Right now I just can’t wait to get back into the gym, get back to playing. I miss my friends, teammates, Coach Gary, Coach Haley, and I miss being at school. This time of year I am busy with FFA, I bought a pig in March, so I know he will keep me busy.”
Photo Credit: Tommy Robinson
