A8
WEDNESDAY
March 20, 2019
‘GUARD 21’
Joseph Charter School’s rising star
By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
Anyone watching the Joseph
Charter School girls basketball
team is familiar with the distinc-
tive play of Sabrina Albee, no.
21. Albee’s presence is unavoid-
able, sinking shot after shot to help
propel an already talented squad
toward the state 1A basketball
championship series. JCS sopho-
more Albee wears the number 21
for the Eagles. Albee’s hard work
and dedication to the sport earned
her the distinction of unanimous
choice for the Old Oregon League’s
“Player of the Year” award.
Albee, 16, doesn’t remem-
ber when she fi rst started shooting
hoops. She does remember when
she started realizing she has a talent
for the sport: “When I was in fi fth
or six grade playing on the junior
high “A” team.” She started on the
vaunted Eagles varsity team as a
freshman, where she plays shooting
guard or point guard. Her family all
plays the game with one aunt even
playing for the University of Ore-
gon squad.
“She inspired my sister (Satori
Albee) and me as well,” Albee said.
A three-sport athlete, including
volleyball and track, basketball is
her fi rst love.
“I love the competition, and I
can go outside my box and trust
others,” she said. “I don’t just have
to count on myself; I can count on
other people.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Albee
doesn’t have a problem balancing
her academic work and her athletic
life.
“I get as much done as I can
during school, and I have a lot of
late nights doing homework,” she
said with a laugh. She is a constant
presence in the upper reaches of the
honor roll, undoubtedly helping the
Eagles girls earn a cumulative GPA
of 3.74.
The young star hopes to play col-
lege basketball. She hasn’t decided
on where, although she has a keen
interest in interior design. Her fam-
ily is helping her put together a
video resume of her court play
when the colleges come calling.
Players don’t get as good as
Albee by confi ning practice to
school. The sophomore spends her
spare time picking out court spots
and shooting until she makes it and
then shooting some more. She also
practices moves for attacking the
basket and has a basket on the side
of her home where she practices
daily in the summer time. In eighth
grade she played for La Grande’s
AAU team and last year went to
Sunday Clinics in the Tri-Cities,
Washington area. She also chalks
‘I’m really
competitive.
I want to win.’
Sabrina Albee
Unanimous selection as
the Old Oregon League’s
Player of the Year award.
See Albee, Page A9
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