Senior Lucy Pocras has been a part of the Westside girls basketball team since she was a freshman. Last season Pocras ended with a record of 27 GP but is hoping to double that in her final season. Pocras talks about how she has been working towards that this season.
“We really are not too focused on beating our record from last season. Our main focus this year has been winning the games we are supposed to be winning and playing the game we know how to play. It is easy to get pulled into the other team’s style and speed of game which can throw our game off. So we have learned to not get pulled into this and focus on what we have practiced. Along with this doing the little things has been very important to us as those are what we believe can often win games,” Pocras said.
Head coach Steve Clark has been by Pocras’ side since the very beginning, he’s seen her at her lows and been there to congratulate her highs. Coach Clark talks about his bond with Pocras and what he has seen from her this season.
“Lucy has always shown a great work ethic and attitude. She is a very reliable athlete and a great teammate, and our relationship has been built on her commitment to our team culture. She truly embodies the role of student-athlete and getting the most of her high school experience,” Clark said.
Senior Carly Connell has watched Pocras grow as a player and person on and off the court. Connell has watched her learn lessons the hard way but also learned those lessons through her, Connell talks about what she has learned from Pocras.
“Lucy has helped me to see the positive in everything. She always has a smile on her face and is always making people around her laugh,” Connell said.
Pocras has learned lots of lessons from Westside basketball and even though she won’t be continuing her basketball career at the next level she talks about the lessons Westside basketball and coach Clark have taught her that she will take with her.
“ Westside Basketball has really taught me how big of a part teamwork plays in the sport. For the past four years the Westside team has taught us to always put in 100% effort. We have found by doing this along with controlling what we can control we are bettering ourselves every day along with our teammates, ” Pocras said.
Pocras is a huge part of other activities other than basketball, some of them being soccer, golf, red shield and deca. On top of all her activities she is still a great student. Coach Clark talks about how he sees Pocras balancing all her activities.
“ Her time management and dedication she puts into all of her activities will lead to all of her future successes. Lucy always has a smile and is constantly looking for the positives in life while having fun,” Clark said.
Pocras talks about how she balances all her activities while also maintaining good grades in school.
“My love for every sport I have played and activity I do has really been the main reason I can juggle so many things at once. I have played basketball and soccer for my entire life which has always been very time consuming. I think it’s because of this that I can juggle sports along with school so easily. I guess practice makes perfect. School work alone can at times become overwhelming and sports I have found are the best way to clear my mind which in the long run shows in my school work,” Pocras said.
Since her freshman year Pocras has been trying to make an impact on the court. Connell has watched Pocras pour her heart into every game. Connell talks about what Pocras has truly contributed to Westside basketball.
“She makes the most of every moment. She is the best teammate you could ever ask for. Lucy is the biggest hype man. She is a beast on the court and can always knock down a 3 when we need it,” Connell said.
Coach Clark has had a lot of memories with Pocras and has been alongside her for a long time. He shares his favorite moments with Pocras.
“ Her corn hat at the Husker game, costumes on Halloween workouts, and the van rides in Arizona showed Lucy’s fun loving spirit. On the court she has always been a good shooter and athletic, which also shows while playing soccer, ” Clark said.
Connell and Pocras have grown close all these years playing together. Connell shares her favorite memories on the team with Pocras.
“My favorite memory is being hyper with Lucy on the Bus rides to away games, especially the bus rides to Kearney and Missouri, ” Connell said.
Leaving a sport you have considered a home for four years of your life can be hard, but you will always take those memories with you. Pocras shares her favorite memories with Westside basketball.
“ A lot of my favorite memories from Westside Basketball come from our team trip to Arizona. Over the trip we had a lot of team bonding time and really got to see peoples personalities outside of basketball which was fun. The place we stayed at had a bunch of waterslides which was a definite highlight of the trip,” Pocras said.
You can catch Pocras in action Feb.17 against Elkhorn South.
