A Wallaceburg basketball star is heading west to continue her basketball dream.
With her family and coaches surrounding her, Alyssa Lucier signed on the dotted line this morning and committed to playing on the women’s basketball team at the University of Manitoba starting in September.
“I never really considered out of province playing but at the Juel Tournament they came and talked to me at the game and presented me with the idea to visit,” Lucier said. “I thought I would jump on the opportunity. When I went out I loved the campus, the team, and the coaching staff. It was so welcoming and made it impossible to turn down.”
Michelle Hynes, the head coach of the Bisons women’s basketball team, visited Lucier at Wallaceburg District Secondary School on Thursday.
Hynes said there are many attributes that impress her about Lucier, but one in particular stands out.
“Right away, her passion to play defence. We haven’t had too many athletes that we have said “hey, what do you like about the game ?’ and defence is the first thing they say. So that’s a really good asset for us to use. Also the ability to play both (point guard and shooting guard.) We are finding that the biggest transition position from high school to (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) in terms of being lead a team and have some leadership qualities while being able to produce consistently weekend to weekend, because our schedule is so demanding.”
Hynes added: “As much as we want to put her into a kind of a set, because of her athleticism and passion for the game, let her take it where she really enjoys and see how she can grow her game.”
Hynes said they first saw Lucier play at a tournament in Hamilton, while she was playing with the London Ramblers.
“It was a little bit of luck for sure, I’m learning recruiting on the fly and you just have to be at the right place at the right time.”
Janine Day, the head coach of the girls basketball team at WDSS, said Lucier sets a tremendous example for her fellow student athletes.
“I think it’s obviously showing that kids in the town are working hard in the athletics department and also in the classroom for her to be attending that university,” Day said. “I think we have had in the last five years five or six girls playing post secondary between college and university. I think it’s a demonstration too of Alyssa, she has set her goal and she has reached it for September.”
Day said Lucier will follow in the footsteps of former Tartans Shauney Fischer and Erin Sarapnickas who play for the York Lions, Tori Handsor who plays at St.Clair College in Windsor and Kayla Riley, who plays for Lambton College.
Lucier said some of these former Tartans, and teammates, have helped her reach this level.
“Shauney Fischer… she really helped me a lot. Days where I wouldn’t be doing so well she would take me in the gym and shoot around. Deanna Kirkoff, she is a couple years older than me. She went to play in the United States. She would come in and also shoot with me and do some work out drills with me to help me too. So they have really impacted me.”
Lucier said it is an honour to follow in their footsteps.
“It means a lot actually. It has always been a dream of mine and that it’s actually coming true is surreal. I feel like I’m showing them that the work they put in is paying off.”
Looking back on her days at WDSS, Lucier said she hopes to be remembered as a leader and a consistent player.
“My defence, I’m really passionate about defence so once we are in a slump I always lead the team back from getting a couple steals or starting on defence. My leadership on the court, I’m really vocal and I just try to help my teammates out,” Lucier said.
Lucier credits many coaches who over the years have helped her a great deal.
“Lori Moiynihan in Grade 3 with developmental skills, starting from scratch and Miss Day has probably had the biggest impact on me. She has been coaching me since Grade 10 for high school and club basketball. She has brought back my love for the game and I don’t think I would be here without her.”
Lucier will be studying criminology when she starts in September.
Photo: Michelle Hynes and Alyssa Lucier.
