CASS LAKE – Senior Gabby Fineday has become accustomed to her friends, family and community cheering her on at Cass Lake-Bena High ÍáÍáÂţ» girls basketball games.
When Fineday takes the next step in her playing career at the collegiate level next season, her supporters will just have to take a 20 minute trip down the road to continue rallying her on from the stands.
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The Panthers' standout guard is heading to Bemidji State, announcing her commitment via Twitter on Nov. 12.
Fineday had a few other schools to consider, but ultimately, the opportunity to stick so close to home proved essential in the final decision.
“That’s one of the main reasons I chose (BSU),” Fineday said. “It’s really special to me to be able to showcase what I can do in front of everyone and have everyone there for me in the stands, cheering for me after a shot. … No other school could offer me a chance to play in front of my family, my friends and my community.”
Fineday will be the first Cass Lake-Bena girls basketball player to suit up for the Beavers since Kristina Salscheider transferred to BSU back in the fall of 2007.
She’s the 11th player in five years under head coach Martin Wind to take the step into the collegiate level.
“She’s been playing for me since seventh grade, and this is her last year, so she deserved it big time,” Wind said. “She’s got a big family around here, lots of little cousins. Her sisters around here, all these little girls look up to her. (It will be a) 20-minute drive to watch her play home games, pretty special.”
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More recently, the CLB boys basketball team’s Dominic Fairbanks committed to BSU. He recently started his freshman season with the Beavers.
“It’s important to show younger generations that it’s possible and that you can do it here, too, you don’t have to go off,” Fineday said.
At this point, Fineday is already extremely familiar with Bemidji State.
From talking to the coaching staff, to attending basketball games for the past couple years and even enrolling in BSU’s PSEO program (Post Secondary Education Opportunities, offered to high school students), Fineday will step into a program she’s well-acquainted with next season.
“I love the coaching staff, they’ve been very supportive,” Fineday said. “I get texts like every other week from them, even before I committed they were always in touch and really supportive. I loved the gym, the gym is nice, I’ve been there, very comfortable with the school. … I’ve just really (bought) into the community there.”
She’ll also be joining a few former AAU teammates on BSU’s roster in sophomores Ashlynne Guenther and Tieryn Plasch.
Fineday’s commitment was just the first of many goals she wants to check off her checklist heading into her senior season, though.
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“I knew for sure that I wanted to get committed before my senior season,” Fineday said. “I just really wanted to be able to play and know what’s happening next and give me something to look forward to after basketball season.”
Fineday eclipsed 2,000 points in her junior season, which means there’s a few scoring milestones well within reach in her final year as a Panther. There’s Taryn Frazer’s 2,594 points and Wind’s 2,622 points – the latter of which is still the record for any player at CLB.
Fineday is shooting beyond those marks, though.
“My 3k mark is definitely in reach,” Fineday said. “That's something that also keeps me motivated.”
However, just as important to Fineday in this final high school season is winning. Cass Lake-Bena’s star player is eying a return to state for the first time since her freshman year with the team.
“She’ll do anything to win,” Wind said. “Everyone talks about her scoring, her shooting, but she can go out there and she won’t score. If she has to, she’ll pass the ball. It doesn’t matter for her as long as she wins it.”
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