by By Dale Pine, Jr.
Alaetra Evans is the tallest player in Oglala Lakota College (OLC) women’s basketball history. Standing at a legit 6 feet 4 inches when wearing shoes, Evans has averaged 14 points per game in the last four games for the Lady Bravehearts and 8 points per game on the season.
It hasn’t been an easy road for the junior center from Interior, South Dakota, but she’s always found ways to make it work. Alaetra grew up in Midland, South Dakota with her grandparents. She and her siblings were taken in by her grandparents after their parents struggled with drug addictions and alcohol. She attended high school at Midlands High School until it shut down in 2006.
There, she was active in all sporting opportunities that the Midland Tumblers offered including the fencing club. She even ran in a cross country meet after being convinced by the coach and placed eighth. Alaetra then enrolled at Philip High School until the 2008-09 school year.
“2006 was a hard year, not only did my school shut down but my grandpa died as well.” said Evans. “I got off track and distanced myself from sports. I tried to be involved, but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be more thankful that my grandparents stepped in when they did.”
She withdrew from school at Philip and moved to Rapid City where she got a job and apartment. Eventually, she enrolled at Jefferson Academy through Rapid City Central High School. “I had my apartment and paid for it myself. I struggled to make it to class every morning at 8 a.m., but I did it,” said Evans.
She would go on to graduate with Native American honors in 2010. She has since reconnected with her mother and along with her grandmother and siblings, offer Alaetra moral support. Alaetra enrolled at Oglala Lakota College during the 2010-11 academic year, but hit another rough patch in life. After working various jobs and staying with different people for the next three years, she decided she wanted to give college another try. She re-enrolled at OLC again in 2014-15 and became active again for the first time in almost a decade.
It was while playing a pick-up volleyball game at the college where the former head coach, Mary Tobacco, saw Alaetra and asked her to play for the women’s basketball team. “We loaded up and went straight to Lame Deer, Montana and came back that night in a snow storm. I felt like I was about to pass out on the court because I couldn’t breathe. I was so out of shape then,” said Evans.
Evans has flourished in her second go at college. In addition to being a captain for the women’s basketball team, she is also the Student Organization Vice President, a tutor, a peer mentor, participates in intramural and co-ed volleyball, and is also involved with hand games. Last spring, she went to the AIHEC student conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Less than five hours after she got back from the 13 hour trip, she hopped into the van to head for the AIHEC basketball tournament in Billings, MT.
Her OLC team would go to win the 2015 American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Division II women’s basketball championship with Evans as a starter. She finished the season averaging 3.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Alaetra aspires to get a college degree and continue to learn her culutral ways. “Through OLC basketball I found support while maintaining a high GPA. My favorite part about going to school here is learning my traditions and where I come from, that’s my favorite part,” said Evans.
With her emergence as a powerful force in basketball, her coach sees more accomplishments in the future. “Alaetra has come a long way in life and she’s only reaching the tip of her potential. Her ceiling is high and I believe that she could play basketball overseas some day. It’s not everyday you get to work with a 6’4″ player who has a feel for the game and our coaching staff has been working with her and she’s willing to take everything we throw at her,” said OLC head coach Dale Pine Jr.
Her former coach, Mary Tobacco agrees. “Alaetra definitely is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with hard work, determination, and commitment.”
Go Girl! I know you’ve had to dig deep for your strength but sharing your story and your energy with others will make it all worthwhile in the end. Enjoy your success, and never stop working toward the next, you’re an inspiration.