LaCrosse senior Gabbie Sievers has scored points among her teammates and in the community with her leadership skills.
In the last four games, she's started to light up the scoreboard.
Sievers is averaging 10.51 points per game for the Tigers (6-12). She's scored 38 percent of her point total this season in the last four games (72), which includes a career-high 26 in a 52-35 win over Lake Station last Tuesday.
"She always been pretty humble with how she played," LaCrosse coach Brian McMahan said. "That unselfishness has went away, and her teammates are starting to trust her to be our scorer."
In last Friday's 39-36 upset win over Porter County Conference round-robin leader South Central, Sievers led the way with a game-high 16 points.
"She doesn't force the ball," McMahan said. "It's always centered in the offense."
On or off the court, Sievers remains grounded.
She's been able to find a balance to play five varsity sports, maintain a 3.8 grade-point average, tutor high school and elementary students, coach and referee Wanatah youth basketball games, and also do youth volunteer work at the Wanatah library.
"If I'm not busy, I don't really think I'm challenging myself," said Sievers, who is thinking about a career as a social worker. "I keep a strict schedule.
"I just really like to help people out. LaCrosse was having getting kids out for cross country and track, and I wanted to help with the numbers. That's kept me in shape for volleyball, basketball and softball.
"I also want to be able to help younger kids in some ways other people cannot. It makes me feel good that they see me as a role model, they respect me and are willing to listen."
Sievers is making an impact. She received the James Dold Mental Attitude Award at the PCC girls basketball tournament.
"I was really excited when I won," Sievers said. "It's nice to see that people just don't look at the points you score in a game. There are other things that are measured."
In basketball, she's maintained a positive attitude through four losing seasons. This year's win total is the most since 2003, and the program hasn't had a winning campaign since 1993 (10-9).
"I don't love the situation, but it's taught us how to deal with losing games," Sievers said. "Losing is something you have to deal with in life. You might not get the job you want, but you have to pick yourself up and keep working to get where you want to be."
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