By Rich Winter

605 Sports

WHITE RIVER — White River High School senior Maleena Brave had plenty of good role models during her formative sports years.

As an eighth-grader she watched the Caelyn Valandra and Maleighya Estes-led Tigers win the 2021 Class B state title. A year later she saw action at the state tournament as White River qualified for a second consecutive season. 

“I grew up looking up to those girls and they helped me grow into the basketball player that I am today,” Brave said. “They taught me how to compete and I hope that in some way I’ve been able to inspire the next generation of girls.” 

Brave started her athletic career at Todd County High School but changed her plans when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Rosebud Reservation. 

“I transferred to White River so I could play basketball,” she said. 

Brave blossomed into an all-conference performer and a three-year starter for the Tigers. During her career she watched Valandra and Estes both achieve major scoring milestones. Valandra (2,534) and Estes (2,214) both scored more than 2,000 career points. 

In the back of her mind she dreamt about becoming a 1,000 point scorer and in late January she accomplished that feat

“It was really nice because you see people hit that milestone and you want to do the same,” she said. “I didn’t know I was going to hit it that night because they told me a different number and I only needed six so it came as a surprise.” 

Brave’s family has been supportive of her athletic exploits but on the night she broke the 1,000 point barrier a larger than ever contingent of family showed up to share the moment. 

“It meant a lot for them to be there,” Brave said. “It was really special hitting that mark and having everyone from my family be there.” 

Brave says she is planning on playing college basketball but before college she has one season left, track season. 

Brave who is 5-foot-5 is one of the top high jumpers in South Dakota with a personal best of 5-03.25.

Brave is a three-time state qualifier in the high jump and finished second in the Class B last spring. 

“I think high jump is easier to do because it’s an individual sport and you control how you do,” Brave said.”It kind of came naturally to me and I enjoy it and I don’t get nervous.” 

Jumping heights equivalent to her own height is nothing new for Brave who is looking forward to the upcoming track season. 

“I just think the higher I get the more nerve wracking it gets,” she said. “I’m just used to it. I made 5-3 as a freshman so I’m pretty used to jumping that high.”

Brave went over 1,000 career points on Jan. 31 in a game against St. Francis Indian with a large contingent of her family in attendance - Photo courtesy of Marie Bear Shield