Glory Sobotta (Nez Perce): 2019-20 Idaho Basketball State Champion Is Returning For Her Senior Year To Lapwai HS

By Dan Ninham

Time will tell if the 2020-21 winter basketball season will be underway. At least two of the top returning stars of the defending Idaho girls basketball state championship team will be ready.

The Lapwai HS girls’ basketball team won their tenth state championship last season. This matches the Lapwai HS boys’ basketball teams. Collectively, the Lapwai HS boys’ and girls’ lead Idaho schools, regardless of classification, in total number of state basketball championships (20).

The Lapwai HS girls’ basketball team has a 50% state championship winning record. They have made it to the state tournament for an unprecedented 20 consecutive season streak. In what is considered the best 1AD1 league in the state, they have won seven straight district championships.

Lapwai the town is on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in north-central Idaho. It is on the western side of the reservation. The Nimiipuu people have always lived on the lands of the present-day reservation. The federally recognized Nez Perce Tribe has more than 3,500 members.

Glory Sobotta is 17 years old and will be a senior this school year at Lapwai HS. Her parent’s are Bob and Angel Sobotta and her siblings include Payton, 19, Grace, 16, and Faith, 13. The Sobotta family lives in Lapwai, ID.

Last season basketball post-season, Glory was named 1st team All League, 2nd Team All State Tournament, 2nd Team Idaho Statesman, Player of the Game at the State Tournament, P1FCU Athlete of the Week, and Lewiston Tribune Athlete of the Week. Most of these accolades mirrored her honors as a sophomore and freshman.

During the state championship game, sisters Glory and Grace combined for 31 of the team’s 46 points. The Lapwai HS Wildcats defeated the Prairie HS Pirates 46-40. Glory and Grace will return to the team next season as a senior and junior respectfully.

“My tribal values define me as an athlete because while I play I represent my tribe, my native people and my community,” shared Glory.

The Sobotta’s are a family of basketball coaches. Aunts and uncles are on the sidelines during the winter and the off-season.

“My dad Bob Sobotta taught me many things on and off the court,” said Glory. “Put in the work at 6 am before school. Working with me at open gyms.”

“Glory is a great big sister and model to Grace and Faith,” said dad Bob. “She has stayed busy organizing some workouts for cousins and friends while waiting for things to open up more due to COVID-19. Glory has learned a bunch from playing and being around her upperclassmen the past three years and is looking forward to being a senior and leader this year.”

Bob Sobotta was an elite high school basketball player and continued on to Lewiston-Clark State College in the 80’s. In 1984, he helped Lapwai HS win a state boys’ title before going to college. 

In a story in the March 9, 2020 Lewiston Tribune, he downplayed his shooting prowess including a made nine 3-pointers in a game. He said, “If you watch and play enough basketball, you want to play with passion and try to play the right way. It’s about being a part of a team.” The in-depth story about the Sobotta basketball legacy is here: https://lmtribune.com/sports/the-saturdays/article_dd24c81a-acd6-5fea-ba5d-0b00261e7ca5.html

“Uncle Solo Greene coached me in AAU and native tourneys and he taught me the basics,” said Glory.

“I’ve coached Glory and her sister Grace over the years on our AAU and traveling teams,” said Solo Greene. “Offensively, Glory can be used as a 1 or 2 guard. She is a good ball handler, can shoot and can take the ball to the hoop. Defensively, she is feisty, quick and can get into people, and when she gets a steal or gets the ball on a fast break, she sees the court well.” 

“Glory isn’t a very vocal player, but she leads by example. She hustles, plays hard and plays smart. She understands the game, and she continues to improve with the mental part of the game. Her mental and physical strength can also be seen off the court by her work ethic. You can see her at the track, at the outdoor courts or at the gym putting in work. She is an exceptional player,” added Solo.

“Uncle Mike Sobotta played me in hard 1-on-1’s and put in good gym time,” said Glory. “He’s always been there for me. Gives great feedback and good advice.”

“Glory is one of the most sweetest, nicest, funniest young ladies you could ever meet off the court,” said uncle Mike. “On the court she is one the most fiery competitors there is. The first time she lost a game at Spokane’s Hoopfest at age six, the other team must have been celebrating too much for her liking. She started to bum-rush the other team, but her aunt was able to grab her before she got too far.”

“Throughout her high school career she always seemed to rise to the occasion. From her freshman year leading her team in scoring at 14 points per game at the Idaho State tournament and a Third place finish. During her junior year she led her team in scoring in the State Championship game with 17 points. In her three years at Lapwai HS, the girls team compiled a record of 66-10 overall, two League Championships, three District Championships, two State third places, and a State Championship,” added Mike.

“Glory has been selected as a Whitepine League Division 1 All-League First Team her freshman, sophomore, and junior years,” said Mike. “The Whitepine D1 girls’ basketball league is considered to be the best D1 league in the State of Idaho.”

“Although she is not shy to speak up on the court when needed, Glory likes to lead by example,” said Mike. “Most of the time she is guarding the other teams point guard or best perimeter player. That means she is picking them up at half-court and setting the tone for the rest of the team’s tenacity on defense. On offense she will look to lead by getting a bucket for her team in a tight game. Most of her best offensive output always seems to come versus better competition or in the big games.”

“Uncles Abe and Jack Yearout let me go to their practices and practice with the boys,” said Glory.

“Glory is a real unique talent who can score at all three levels driving and finishing over taller defenders, stopping on a dime knock down jumpers and spreading the floor with 3’s from the entire arc,” said Uncle Abe Yearout. “She’s always up to the challenge of guarding the best players and regularly gets steals with her sneaky fast hands. Overall she is a real game changer that I see playing at the next level.”

“Off the court she is a born leader who takes after her parents Bobby and Angel Sobotta who are both excellent leaders in the community. The future is very bright for Glory and all of Lapwai and can’t wait for her senior year and beyond,” added Abe.

Uncle Jack Yearout said: “Glory Sobotta is not only a great basketball player, but more importantly a great person. Her priorities are her faith, family, school, and then basketball. She loves riding appaloosa horses, and many other aspects of her culture. She organized basketball games outdoors during the pandemic to keep up her basketball skills and keep her teammates involved. She comes from long line of successful basketball players on both sides of her family.

“Glory is a natural player who instinctively knows the game. Great shooter, playmaker, and at 2020 state basketball tournament hounded the oppositions best player all game long,” added Jack. 

“Uncle Emmit Taylor, Jr. worked me out at 6 am’s and open gyms,” said Glory.

“I help out with the boys’ basketball team and anytime we opened up the gym Glory was there,” said Uncle Emmit Taylor, Jr. “A lot of them were at 6 am and she never missed. She has an incredible work ethic and attitude and it shows in her game. She is a fierce competitor. I am excited for her senior year and she can definitely play at the next level.” 

Aunt Debbie Sobotta is the head girls’ basketball coach at Clarkston HS in WA. She talked about her niece: “Glory Sobotta is a fierce competitor and complete basketball player with a high basketball IQ. Even though I am her aunt, I watch her as a coach evaluating her game. I once watched her play Post Falls, who is four classifications bigger than Lapwai and a team who uses their athleticism to wreak havoc with their full court pressure. As the point guard, Glory handled the pressure brilliantly attacking the press with composure and precise decision-making. She is a player who makes teammates around her better and remains humble in the process.”

“Coach Ada and Uncle Josh Leighton helped me fulfill my childhood dream of a state championship,” said Glory. “They are great coaches and very knowledgeable.”

“Glory did a great job at being a leader on the court more at the middle and end of the season,” said Coach Ada Marks. “She was being a little more vocal than she was at the beginning. She stepped up her leadership when we needed it and when her teammates needed a little bit of a push. She also was a great teammate and leader off the court. She always made sure to be vocal and encouraging when she was getting her breaks and was on the bench cheering for her team. I’m looking forward to her being a bigger leader her senior year and pushing not only herself but also her teammates to be better each practice and game.” 

“Physically I need to improve my athletic abilities,” said Glory. “I try to lift weights every now and then. I was in a weight training class before school was closed. I also like to run on my own time, and I run the track 1-2 miles. I also run the Lapwai hills, and fire trail.”

“The knowledge areas I need to improve on the court are picking up others when they’re feeling down,” said Glory. “Help them get out of their heads.”

“Spiritually I connect with this sport,” said Glory. “God gave me these talents and all the blessings that come with it. When I play I try to remember to be faithful to my teammates and the opposing team.”

“Emotionally when I get down on myself, it’s because I’m not making shots or have turnovers,” said Glory. “Mistakes happen and if I’m not succeeding at one thing I’ll try to do something else to help benefit the game. The strategies I use are to tell one of my teammates to handle the ball until I get myself back together. I stop taking three-point shots and start driving. Usually my coaches notice and give me a quick break.”

“During the pandemic world, I’m keeping myself busy with school work, house chores, TikTok’s, movies, workouts and family time,” said Glory. “I’m allowed to see my cousins and we’re a family of nine and we go on adventures. Where they live there’s a lot of land. I also go hoop at my Uncle Jack’s full outside court. I run the track here and there 1-2 miles. We also have some weights here at my house so I use those for a home workout.”

“I want people to know that Glory Sobotta is a native athlete that is keeping motivated,” said Glory.