Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
REACHES MILESTONE — Sable Altvater, center, along with her mother, Adele Alvater, and coach Cliff Urquhart pose for a photograph after Alvater reached her 1,000th high school point. She made the shot from the free throw line. She joins six other Lady Warriors, who have already achieved this feat at the school, including Jill Mathers and Jessica Walker (both in 1994); Jody Brown (1995); Janna Walker (1997); Kristi Brooker (2002); and Audrey Charette (2006). Altvater now wants to move forward and help her team to the Class D Eastern Maine tourney in Bangor.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
DYER BROOK – Foul shots are among one of the toughest shots to take in basketball, let alone the fact that your 1,000th high school point is riding on it. That is what faced Southern Aroostook’s Sable Altvater last Tuesday night.
“I was really happy and very fortunate that I made it to that milestone in my career,” Altvater said. “It really felt good to know that all my hard work and dedication paid off.”
It was no secret coming into the gym that night that Altvater was on the edge of a milestone.
“I was very nervous and was under some pressure because everyone expected me to score it that day,” she said. “I didn’t want to disappoint anyone and wanted to get it done for all the people who came out to watch.”
Fouled just before the end of the second quarter, Altvater stared at the rim. That moment was understandably nervewracking.
“I just kept thinking that if I made these foul shots, the pressure would be off and I could focus on winning the game,” she said. “I tried not to think about it, but it was always in the back of my head distracting me and making me more nervous.”
Standing at the line for two shots, Altvater sank them both and the celebration began.
“I was thinking that if I make this I could relax,” she said. “I kept telling myself, just like in practice, you can do this.”
Altvater is the sixth Lady Warriors player to reach the 1,000th point plateau. She joins Jill Mathers and Jessica Walker (both in 1994); Jody Brown (1995); Janna Walker (1997); Kristi Brooker (2002); and Audrey Charette (2006).
“I think it’s a great achievement,” said SACS coach Cliff Urquhart. “I had Sable as a freshman and now as a senior, so I’ve seen the tremendous growth in her as a player. She didn’t get it by not working hard. She doesn’t miss practice, comes to every summer game or open gym, any time basketball was accessible to her, she would be there. The way basketball has changed over the last few years and become a guard-oriented sport, it’s good to see a back-to-the-basket player achieve this.”
Altvater and Urquhart both have Downeast connections. Altvater is originally from Pleasant Point and Urquhart from Eastport, which are bordering towns.
“When I get chances to get back home and see people from that area its kind of a running joke that somehow I recruited her to play up here,” said Urquhart.
Scoring 1,000 points was not Altvater’s goal, or at least not when she started playing ball.
“At first, it was something that just happened along the way,” she explained. “As a kid, I always looked up to 1,000 point-scorers, I never thought I would become one. It wasn’t until the end of last season that I realized I was starting to get close and with enough hard work, I could achieve that goal.”
Altvater moved to Island Falls when she was in fifth grade. She started playing peewee basketball for the Island Falls Elks. From there, teammates were forged. Two components that helped her achieve the high school milestone.
“My teammates helped greatly with this,” she said. “I really could not have done it without each and every one of them. They are so supportive. I could not have asked for a better group of girls to spend my senior year with.”
“I think everyone on our roster would agree, she is a great teammate, maintains a positive attitude and really cares about the people around her,” added Urquhart. “We’re glad it’s in the books and now we are focused on making a run at getting to Bangor.”
Altvater and her teammates are looking to reach this year’s Eastern Maine Class D tournament at the new Cross Center in Bangor.
“After my season ends, I really would love to keep on playing in college, but have not made up my mind yet,” she said.
