IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Glenbrook South’s Liz LaPierre drives against Evanston’s Kayla Henning during recent CSL South action. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Liz LaPierre. Now there’s a name that pick n’ rolls off the tongue.
Her game? Just as smooth.
The left-handed 6-foot-2 senior forward/center plays basketball the right way.
A little flair.
A whole lot of savoir-faire.
Which makes her a prominent player for Glenbrook South.
“She does things on the court that helps you win,” said GBS head coach Steve Weissenstein, following his team’s decisive 57-28 victory over visiting Niles North on Dec. 8.
The fundamentally sound LaPierre is instinctive, versatile and refined on the court.
Her game is not necessarily catchy. Instead it’s appreciated over time.
Wasn’t impressed the first time you saw her play?
Watch again.
“She’s just got a knack for the game,” Weissenstein said.
“And she doesn’t even know how good she really is,” the Hall of Fame coach added.
The English-speaking, Spanish-learning and French-sounding LaPierre decided a while back not to pursue basketball after high school.
Which probably miffed a few people — especially coaches at the Division III level.
“She is,” said Weissenstein, “exactly what a good Division III basketball program is looking for.”
She’s got size. She’s got skills.
“And she’s a great student,” noted Weissenstein.
LaPierre certainly was on course to play at the next level. In addition to being a productive three-year varsity player with the Titans, she competed in club basketball — ALL IN Athletics — for the past three summers.
Currently, four ex-stars from GBS — Carie Weinman (University of Denver), Caitlin Morrison (Valparaiso), Ashley Oldshue (Emory) and Molly McDonagh (Miami of Ohio) — are excelling in college hoops (see Notable below).
“I used to think I wanted to play college basketball,” said LaPierre.
No doubt, she will miss the hoops.
If she were to list her hobbies/interests, they would be passing, dribbling, rebounding and shooting.
“Mostly,” she admitted. “I just play basketball.”
LaPierre fits a true need for any contending team. She’s a solid inside presence.
Currently, LaPierre is averaging close to nine points and seven rebounds per game for a team which has won seven of its first nine games.
In a win over Grant during the recent Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament, LaPierre tossed in a career-high 19 points in three quarters of action. She ended up earning all-tournament honors, along with Lizzy Shaw, Makayla Stadler and Libbie Vanderveen.
“She’s strong. She’s smart,” said Shaw. “She always knows what to do, when she’s on the court.”
And, according to Shaw, LaPierre is an even better person — and teammate.
“She’s always fun to be around. Always,” said Shaw, who will play basketball at the University of Chicago next season. “She makes you laugh. She’s carefree. Never stressed. She’s always there to brighten your day.”
The coach agreed.
“It’s pretty hard to get mad at her,” said Weissenstein. “She’s always smiling. She never has a bad attitude.”
LaPierre had every right to be down in a recent game. Her positive disposition was put to the test in her team’s frustrating and lackluster 54-31 loss to visiting Evanston on Dec. 5.
It was a LaClunker for LaPierre.
Nothing went in (0 points), nothing went right for her that night.
Except this.
LaPierre didn’t dwell on it. She put it all behind her.
Goaltenders, defensive backs and ace relievers aren’t the only athletes who need short memories.
“That game wasn’t good,” stated LaPierre. “Didn’t do well offensively or defensively.”
But three nights later, LaPierre was back on her game. She tallied nine of her team’s first 14 points and ended up with a game-high 13 points to go with seven rebounds in the win over Niles North.
Getting back to the basics helped. With a little over four minutes to play in the opening quarter, the Titans went textbook.
LaPierre, out on top at the time, waited for a high screen from Shaw, cut down the lane and turned an entry pass from Stadler, who was lined up deep in the corner, into a three-point play.
“Everyone was in the right position on that play,” said LaPierre. “It’s always nice when it works out well.”
Two possessions later, LaPierre used her other hand — and the other side of the lane — to drop in a shot off the glass off a fine feed by Vanderveen.
“Finishing strong under the basket,” said LaPierre. “That’s the No. 1 thing with me this year.”
Notable: GBS grad Carie Weinman came off the bench and fired in 34 points in an 80-73 victory over visiting Northern Arizona on Dec. 3. The freshman guard made 8-of-13 three-pointers to rally the Pioneers (6-5), who trailed by 13 points late in first half.
Weinman, a four-year starter for GBS, has made a team-high 21 threes on the season (.538). She is averaging 9.1 points and 14.1 minutes per game.
At Valparaiso University, GBS grad Caitlin Morrison has made eight starts and is averaging 5.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. The sophomore forward leads the Crusaders (4-4) in blocked shots (14) and steals (9).
At Emory University, junior center Ashley Oldshue is averaging a team-best 19.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. She is shooting 61 percent from the field for the 5-3 Eagles. Last winter, the GBS grad averaged 16.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
And former Titan Molly McDonagh has started all nine games for Miami of Ohio (6-3). She is the team’s second-leading rebounder (6.0). She is third on the team in assists (20). The 6-foot senior guard/forward has made 71 starts during her stint with the Redhawks.