Wright in the red
Senior hits new gear in 2nd season back with Portage
Portage senior Alante’ Wright can point to ways she has improved her skills.
There’s her play away from the ball, both offensively and defensively. There’s her rebounding. There’s her passing, while she also continues to score.
But what the 5-foot-9 guard/ forward most emphasized isn’t associated with her physical ability.
“Mentally, I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” Wright said. “Just not getting as frustrated. If we’re losing, use that as fire to get back up. Just keeping a positive attitude with my teammates on and off the court. It’s just my attitude and my mentality.”
Portage coach Jovanny Gonzalez can attest to Wright’s progress.
“She’s just maturing,” he said. “She’s there to pick up her teammates when they’re down. She’s been in those moments. We try to frame everything positively. But no matter what, when a coach is trying to correct you, it’s hard to be in that moment. She’s had those moments, and she struggled at times. But as a senior, she’s able to bounce back.
“If she’s not doing well or the team’s not doing well, she’s able to keep playing, be coachable and correct her mistakes on the fly and be a positive for the team. We were hoping she’d get there, and she’s definitely there. She takes to coaching. She understands where we’re coming from. She’s a really smart player. A lot of times, it’s, like, ‘Yeah, coach, I got you.’ She knows exactly what we’re going to say before we say it. She knows what we’re expecting.”
The Indians (7-6) have come to expect production across the board from Wright, who was averaging 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals before scoring 17 points in their loss to Hammond Central on Thursday.
With Portage short-handed, Wright efficiently scored a careerhigh 28 points in a win against LaPorte on Dec. 15. She made 7 of 11 shots, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and 9 of 10 from the foul line.
“She’s a great shooter,” Gonzalez said. “She has a very natural motion. Our conversations are always, ‘If you’re taking a good shot, we want it to go up. If you’re in rhythm, if you’re open, if you’re finding the line, do it.’ She has great range. Why she’s really come along this season as the season has gone along, she’s taking really good shots.”
Wright played on Portage’s junior varsity team as a freshman. She transferred to Bishop Noll for her sophomore year, when she averaged 9.7 points and 2.7 rebounds. Then she returned to Portage and posted 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds last season.
“I came back to my home with the Indians,” Wright said. “I was new but not new. I know how to play basketball, so fitting in wasn’t hard. I had already played with the girls. It was just, ‘Play ball.’ Just get closer with my teammates, get closer with my coaches and earn everybody’s trust. Because I did leave, so earn everybody’s trust.”
Wright has succeeded on that front.
“She’s definitely a good ballplayer,” senior forward Evelyn Garza said. “She helps a lot. If she makes a mistake, she lives up to it and tells you. She’ll take all of the blame for it. When she’s tired, she still goes. She’s a good teammate outside of basketball and within basketball.”
Senior guard Ava Kingery said Wright helps get the team going.
“She brings a lot of energy,” Kingery said. “She talks a lot. When we’re down in a game, she can get a bucket, and it gives the team momentum.”
Wright aims to continue the momentum into college. She has a handful of offers, and she intends to study criminal justice with an eye on eventually working for the FBI.
Gonzalez isn’t surprised Wright, whose 18th birthday is Friday, will keep playing after high school.
“She loves the game of basketball,” Gonzalez said. “She’s very passionate about it. She definitely gives back. Any time we have a camp, she’s there. My daughter, who’s in kindergarten, plays, and she stuck around for a few practices after our practices for my daughter’s team, just to see the girls. She’s really good at working with that age level.
“She’s just super passionate about the game, and she loves to give back. Any time she can be teaching a teammate, teaching a middle schooler, teaching these elementary school kids, she’s willing and able to jump in and share that passion.”