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An All-Star Experience

Hinsdale's Whitney Molina Named To NABI All-Star Team

Sixty-four teams from sixteen states participated in the 2014 Native American Basketball Invitational Tournament in Phoenix this year July 1 – 5.

The Rockhawks, an Intertribal ladies team from the Fort Peck Reservation was coached by Barry Bighorn and Kelly Smith and went 7-0 for the tourney winning games by as much as 40 points and as little as 10.

Selection of the team members is made by each tribe and players must show certification of blood content and have the tribal seal in order to be considered for this elite team.

Hinsdale’s Whitney Molina was chosen for the second time in two years and brought her knowledge of defense to the run and gun type of ball known of the Native American teams.

“I was very fortunate to play my high school ball in Hinsdale and to have been coached by Ralph Ellsworth because he stressed defense, ” said Molina. “I didn’t score much but I sure had my work cut out for me defensively.”

Rockhawks coach Barry Bighorn said “defense is what won us this championship.” The score of the championship game was 64-52 which gave the first place trophy to the Fort Peck team.

The tournament was held in Phoenix and Molina was thrilled that they got to dress out in the Phoenix Suns dressing room and got to meet former Suns’ player A.C.Green.

“It was a huge honor to be chosen again”, said Molina “but helping this incredible team win the Gold Division Championship was icing on the cake.”

Minot State University called Molina and asked if she would like to “come play.” So off to Minot she went, first getting a job and then getting used to her new “digs”.

Minot head coach Sheila Green-Gerding said she thinks it would be best for Molina to red shirt this year and Whitney said she was good with that.

Sheila added, “We’re excited to have Whitney with us.” Whitney’s older sister Sacarra was just the twelfth female player to score over 1,000 points in her career at Minot State University.

Congratulation to the Fort Peck Rockhawks, the 2014 NABI Gold Division Champions and good luck to Whitney Molina in her future endeavors at Minot State.

 

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