Sayq’is Greene (Nez Perce): Dad Is Major Influence For This 2020 Lapwai HS (ID) State Basketball Champion

By Dan Ninham (Oneida) 

“My name means ‘beautiful or admire’,” said Sayq’is Greene. “My dad is Solo Greene, and my mom is Jaime Ewing. I’m from Lapwai, Idaho, on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. I am 15 years old.”

“I am NiMiiPuu or also known as Nez Perce,” said Sayq’is. 

“I play basketball and softball at Lapwai High School, and I am a sophomore,” said Sayq’is. “For basketball, I am a 5’9” shooting guard, but because of my height, I played most of the year as a post. Although I was originally tabbed as a starter before the year started, our coach resigned the night before our first game.”

“With a lot of starters and returning players from the previous year, the interim coach decided to bring me off the bench as the sixth person. Coming off the bench, I led the team in rebounds with a 4.9 per game average. I averaged 8.5 points per game, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals. I shot 58% from the floor and 65% from the free throw line. During the year, I was selected as MaxPreps Player of the Game, P1FCU Prep Athlete of the Week for Outstanding Athletic Achievement and Lewiston Morning Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week. I also played a major role in helping our team win the State Championship. It was our schools 10th Basketball State Championship,” added Sayq’is.

“During my freshman year in softball, I usually batted second in the batting order, and I usually played 3rd or 2nd base,” said Sayq’is. “I had a batting average of .435 and a fielding average of .857. Unfortunately, our season this year was cancelled before the season started because of the coronavirus.” 

“My dad raised us traditionally and culturally,” said Sayq’is. “My siblings and I were raised going to the sweat lodge, hunting, fishing, camping and gathering. I believe prayer and our spiritually taught us to be thankful and grateful for what we have. My dad would always remind us, ‘That it isn’t always about you.’ I also believe it taught us sacrifice, commitment and responsibility, and how to provide and take care of others.”

“My dad was very good athletically and academically,” said Sayq’is. “He excelled in football, basketball and baseball, and was in the National Honor Society, ASB Student Body President, Salutatorian, graduated with honors from high school and college. He also has a Graduate Degree in Educational Leadership. He was the point guard on the 1983-84 Idaho High School Basketball State Championship Team, and played on a National Championship Baseball Team at Lewis-Clark State College so he set the bar pretty high. My brother and sisters also excelled in football, basketball,  baseball and softball.” 

“I grew up around sports my whole life,” said Sayq’is. “My dad traveled all over the west and northwest to play softball and basketball, but he also coached. He coached all of our Boys & Girls Club Teams, AAU, Little League and traveling teams. He also coached Middle School Football at Lapwai.”

“My dad not only coached us, he coached many youth and teams in our area who have won local, regional and national tournaments. Many of these players have gone on to play at the next level, including many cousins and relatives,” added Sayq’is. 

“Being around sports my whole life, traveling and watching my dad coach, it becomes a part of your life and who you are,” said Sayq’is. “Seeing all the championships and excitement, I knew that is what I wanted to do and experience too. Plus, I like winning and hanging out with all my friends and classmates.”

“I haven’t played for very many coaches besides my dad, but I was able to play for other coaches here and there when our team wasn’t playing or committed,” added Sayq’is. 

Solo Greene, dad and coach, said: “I’ve coached her since she was in kindergarten. Being a coach and having older children, Sayq’is has always been in the gym and around the game. Although she was younger, she scrimmaged and practiced with the older girls. She probably didn’t always like it, but I think it has helped her become the player and person she is today.” 

“Over the years, I’ve coached some pretty exceptional, amazing and outstanding athletes, and as you probably know, Lapwai is rich in basketball. The saying in Lapwai is, ‘We don’t rebuild, we reload!’” said Solo.

“Starting young, playing with older girls and being around the game, has allowed Sayq’is to be her own player,” said Solo. “She can rebound, score and plays good defense, and she sees the floor well. One of her greatest attributes or strengths is that she has a “TEAM” mentality. Personal or individual stats don’t really matter to her, as long as the team wins. She does whatever it takes and plays multiple positions. She is a good teammate and team player.”

“My three older sisters Stacia, Ciarra and Sawaya received offers to play softball at the next level,” said Sayq’is. “As a sophomore, Stacia was offered a scholarship to play softball at the University of Kansas, and Sawaya received offers in softball and basketball.” 

“Our basketball teams the past three to four years were one of the best in the Northwest for AAU and native tournaments,” said Sayq’is. “We got fully sponsored by Under Armor last year for 15U and the year before for 14U we got partially sponsored by Adidas. And the thing is, it is just our girls. We don’t have try-outs or go out recruiting, it is just our girls right here.” 

“For softball, I got asked to play on a traveling team from Lewiston, Idaho, the summer before my freshman year,” said Sayq’is. “At first, I was really nervous because I haven’t played since I was 11. By the end of the summer, I felt comfortable and was pretty confident. Even though we didn’t have our own team and I didn’t play for a few years, we would throw and hit throughout the spring and summer.” 

“Physically, I work out throughout the year,” said Sayq’is. “My brother and oldest sister always work out and lift, but my dad also keeps me on track. Depending on what season it is, we practice and work out. My dad is really big on basics and fundamentals, and besides practices or working out, I do additional conditioning on my own.”

“During practices and games, my dad always talked about the mental part of the game. Knowing game situations, score, time, tempo, etc.”

“Our family is spiritual, and coming from a small reservation community, most of my friends and teammates are also spiritual,” said Sayq’is. “Church and the sweat lodge are a big part of who we are and what we do. We pray before every game.”

“I think the emotional part comes with preparation,” said Sayq’is. “We play in a lot of big games and tournaments even before we get to the high school level, and we aren’t always the best or most athletic. Working on basics and fundamentals, knowing our strengths and knowing the mental part of the game, really helps in stressful or close games. My dad would always remind us to ‘stay in the game’ as he pointed to his head, and he would say, ‘play in control.’ As emotional or intense things were, my dad would always calm us down and try to get us to relax or settle down.”

“During the pandemic, I think for the most part, I try to focus, stay real and work on me,” said Sayq’is. “I go sweat with my close friends or sisters, work out with my older sister and been talking more to my mom, dad and siblings. We’ve gone fishing, hiking, for drives, to the field and I got to spend a little more time with my mom and young sister. I live with my dad and my younger sister lives with our mom. Church and prayer are a big part of who I am and who we are. Our family motto is, ‘A family that prays together, plays together, stays together.’ Our family is really close.” 

“My dad always says, ‘You don’t have to be the best to be the best,’” said Sayq’is.

“I really don’t care about points or stats, as long as, we win. I just try to do the best that I can and do whatever I can to help us win.”

Photo Credit: Lapwai HS and Dallas Dick