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Tori Teesateskie, a member
of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in her freshman year
with the Johnson University (Tenn.) Lady Royals, was recently
named to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
Mideast All-Region Team. (Photos courtesy of Johnson University)
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Tori Teesateskie, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,
is making her mark at the collegiate level in her freshman year
with the Johnson University (Tenn.) Lady Royals. She was recently
named to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
Mideast All-Region Team.
"I was surprised that I got it," said Teesateskie. "Yeah, I accomplished
it, but there's more that I need to accomplish. I was excited that
I got it and surprised at the same time."
Teesateskie, a Cherokee High School graduate and former Lady Brave,
was the only freshman named to the five-person First Team All-Region
list. "It's a huge accomplishment," said Caylee Braziel, Johnson
University women's basketball head coach. "It's just an incredible
accomplishment, and we are super, super proud of her to represent
Johnson and our program. I am so excited about her potential as
she goes into her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She's got
a lot of potential. I can't wait."
She finished the regular season with 460 points (20.9/game) shooting
43.9 percent from the field, 39.11 percent from three-point land,
and 80.77 percent from the free throw line. "She really can have
a 2,000 point career which not many basketball players do," said
Braziel who noted that Teesateskie's points per game statistic is
the highest in the entire Mideast Region. "I wouldn't be surprised
if she gets MVP next year or the year after she really deserves
it."
While the Lady Royals lost 63-60 to Great Lakes Christian College
in the semifinals of the Mideast Region tournament on Friday, Feb.
28, Teesateskie hit 8 of 10 three-point shots. Braziel commented,
"She was on. She is the purest, probably the best, women's three-point
shooter I've ever seen."
The Lady Royals now move on to the NCCAA Tournament as a No. 7
seed where they will face No. 2 seed Manhattan Christian College
on Thursday, March 12 at 4 p.m. in Joplin, Mo. Teesateskie is now,
and has been all season, focused on her team rather than her statistics.
"To me, it's not an individual sport, it's a team sport," she said.
"Sharing the ball, looking to see who's open on the court, and making
sure other players get open and we get the best shot that we can
get is really an important part of why I like to play because out
of all of the accomplishments I've had, I wouldn't have accomplished
them if it wasn't for my teammates."
A lot of Teesateskie's success in high school and in college has
been due to her work ethic. "She is an incredible worker," said
Braziel. "She stays in the gym and keeps working, goes after it.
She's the first one there. I've seen her kick into even higher gear
as the year's gone on which is just incredible. Tori is the kind
of player that is so composed, so even-keeled; which really brings
consistency. Part of what makes her so good is she is so consistent."
Teesateskie noted, "I know that practice is going to be hard, but
if I want to better myself I'm going to have to do it on my own.
I think it's really important that I go and get in the extra shots
and I go and work on what I need to work on."
She said her biggest focus is really representing the Tribe to
the best of her ability. "I am thankful for the opportunity to represent
my Tribe, and I want to set an example for future kids. Even though
this isn't a big division school, I'm still a minority student who
is making it."
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