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By Ray Hamill — A former Hoopa Warrior got her first taste of coaching this summer, while one of her players got to enjoy the spotlight on a national stage after four impressive years playing for the Little 4 school.

Hoopa’s Ivy Lamebear, who graduated high school a year ago and plays for College of the Siskiyous, is enjoying a new role on the sideline, a role she sees herself continuing to pursue in the future.

Lamebear is an assistant coach with the Native American travel team Hustle and Heart, a team made up of players from all across the Pacific North West.

Her uncle, JT Ball, is the longtime head coach of the team, which traveled to compete at the Native American Junior Nationals in Mesa, Arizona, late last month, and when the opportunity arose to help him out this summer, Lamebear didn’t hesitate.

“This was my first time coaching, and it was nice because I get to learn from JT,” she said. “He’s one of the best coaches of Native American teams in the Pacific North West.

“He’s the type of coach to give you the shirt off this back and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

The coaches appear to work well together and the team enjoyed a big few days in Arizona, leading the team to a second-place finish out of 96 teams in their Diamiond Bracket.

The roster is made up of some of the best travel players in the North West, including Hoopa senior Malakai McCoy (Hoopa Tribe), an All-League selection in the Little 4 this past winter.

The Hustle and Heart players won seven of their eight games, barely falling in the championship game to the Young Guns out of Arizona, one of the top five Native American teams in the nation, according to Lamebear.

The final capped a busy few days for both teams in the tournament, which was played in front of large crowds.

“The chip could have went either way,” Ball said. “It was basically whoever had the most energy left.”

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On the way to the championship game, Heart and Hustle posted impressive wins over the Oklahoma Runners and the Rez Bombers, each of which is ranked among the top teams in the nation in the circuit.

Center Chase BadBear from Montana  (Crow Tribe) was selected to the All-Tournament team for Heart and Hustle.

“He stood out all tournament,” Lamebear said. “He gave it his all.”

According to Lamebear, the team grew as a unit over the three days.

“I feel like the boys they had fun on the court,” she said. “Just learning and (developing) the chemistry to play together.”

Hustle and Heart travel to multiple Native American tournaments every summer, including trips to Las Vegas and Idaho, as well as trips to Arizona to compete in the nationals and the prestigious Native American Basketball Invitational. 

The roster also incudes John Ball (Ho-Chunk Tribe), Aaidyn Bokuro (Siletze), Payton Brown (Muckleshoot), Risen Nunez (New Perce), Matt Suppah (Warm Springs), Tyson Charley (Coeur D’Alene), Truth McDaniel (Muckleshoot), Darrell Bal (Ho-Chunk) and Roan Ereaux (Assiniboine).

Ball has been an inspiration for Lamebear in more ways than one.

He has not only nurtured her budding coaching career, but also inspired her to embrace a role on the sideline.

“He helps the boys because he sees potential they don’t see,” Lamebear said.

And while the 2025 Hoopa High graduate isn’t ready to give up on her playing career just yet — she’ll be back at Siskiyous in the fall preparing for the upcoming season — this summer could be the first step in a whole new career.

“I like teaching the next generation,” she said. “I’d like to be JT’s assistant coach for a while and then coach my own team. I want the girls here in Hoopa to also have that chance.”