The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Brittaney Niebergall practically grew up with a basketball in her hand. She has memories of herself at three years old playing basketball in the driveway with her brother Tommy. She played basketball from three years old all the way through college, has accrued numerous accolades - and she is excited to bring her knowledge of the game to the girls basketball program here in Sisters.

Competitive play for Brittaney started when she was in kindergarten. Growing up playing in the youth programs she oftentimes was the only girl. Brittaney shared that she didn't mind being the lone girl and loved playing with her brother, who is a year older.

She played through middle school, always as a point guard, and then started on varsity as a freshman at Bend High, where her dad was the athletic director. Brittaney was outstanding as a freshman and was named third -team all-state (2007-2008).

Her sophomore year, her family moved to the Portland area, and she transferred to Portland Christian. She tore her ACL and was unable to play. When she was a junior, she came back in full force, the team won the state championship and she was named the 2A Player of the Year. She was also a first-team all-league selection and was the League Player of the Year.

Brittaney transferred to La Salle her senior year and said, "I stayed at Portland Christian until my brother graduated, and then I wanted to go to La Salle, where my family's roots were."

At La Salle, she was a first-team all-league pick, and the League Player of the Year, as well as earning the top honor of being named the 5A State Player of the Year.

It's no surprise Niebergall earned a full basketball scholarship. She attended Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, a NAIA Division 1 college. Brittaney was the National NAIA Freshman Player of the Year and was also a second-team all-conference selection her freshman and junior year. As well as being athletic, Brittaney is also bright, as she was an NAIA Academic All-American.

Niebergall graduated early due to a foot injury, and didn't play basketball her senior year. She got her degree in elementary education K-8 with an endorsement in reading intervention and physical education K-12, and has a master's degree in Educational Leadership.

Her coaching experience started in 2014 with the La Salle High School Summer Freshman Team. She got her first teaching job in St. Helens (2015-2016) and taught first grade. In 2016-2017 she coached the eighth-grade girls in addition to teaching. The following year, Brittaney took over as the head girls basketball coach at St. Helens, and took them to the playoffs for the first time in 25 years (2017-2018).

Teaching and coaching are in Brittaney's blood, as her dad, mom, uncles, cousins, and brother are in the field. Niebergall told The Nugget that both teaching and coaching are a family heritage.

Brittaney's dad and brother were part of her coaching staff in St. Helens, and they will be part of her coaching staff here in Sisters as well. Dad will be the assistant varsity coach and her brother Tommy will also assist on varsity.

This past summer Niebergall was hired to teach kindergarten at Sisters Elementary School, and was hired as the girls' basketball head coach.

"I'm very excited," said Brittaney. "My goal in life was to get to Central Oregon to teach and coach, and I'm so excited I have this opportunity at such a young age (28 years old). When I think of the Sisters girls basketball program moving forward, I see a tremendous challenge, but I'm excited to watch and create opportunities for each player in the program to become a better basketball player and a better leader in the community."

Niebergall told The Nugget she wants to create athletes who are committed to the game of basketball and ones who bring their A-game day in and day out.

"I believe that in the sport of basketball, that energy and effort are two things you can always control," said Brittaney. "I expect every player in our program to bring their maximum energy and effort every day. To me, that's non-negotiable."

Niebergall hopes to get young girls started in basketball as young as kindergarten, and then have opportunities for them to play from that point through high

school.

"My goal as a coach developing the girls basketball program in Sisters is that I want every player, despite their age, and every fan and supporter to have the opportunity to love the game of basketball," said Brittaney.

Brittaney's fiancé, Seth Brown, is also a stellar athlete. He was drafted by the Oakland A's, and is currently playing in the minor leagues, and is projected to be in Triple-A this upcoming year. The couple plans to get married December 21 in the Portland area.