Junior A. Fabiano
April 7, 2009
Willard John Kraemer Jr.
April 9, 2009
Whether it is on the basketball court or the track, 16-year-old juniors Alaina Verdin and Sierra Lyons have been the twin engines powering the Terrebonne Lady Tigers to victories.
Friday night at the Nollie Arcement Relays at Central Lafourche High School was no different. The pair earned 36 of the Lady Tigers 102 points en route to the girls’ team title. It was also the second time this track season Verdin and Lyons shared the field MVP award.
“Winning field MVP has motivated them to work even harder in practice,” said Terrebonne track coach Chelsey Nicholas. “A lot of times, they are the difference in us winning a meet. I think it’s changed their minds and given them the heart to continue in track and loving the sport.”
The track meet award was not the only honor Verdin and Lyons received last week. Both were named to the girls’ Class 5A All-State basketball teams.
Verdin was selected to the second team after averaging 26 points and 5 assists a game, while Lyons was an honorable mention pick averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds a game.
“We’re just so good, it’s amazing that anybody can stop us,” Verdin said. “Not to be cocky, but that’s the way it is. We just have natural ability, and we use it. We do whatever is expected of us to win.”
“That’s great to be recognized,” Lyons said. “Alaina was very ecstatic when she found out, but I took it like, we worked hard so we deserved it. It’s not like we mysteriously came out of nowhere.”
On the track, both Verdin and Lyons are serious contenders to win multiple events at every meet.
Verdin competes in the high jump, in which she won the state championship in 2007 as a freshman, long jump, 400-meter and 1,600-meter relays. Lyons throws the shot put, javelin and discus.
Under the guidance of second-year coach Nicholas, the pair has developed their individual skills to betterment of the team.
“For Sierra, we changed her workout,” the coach said. “She has a better attitude in wanting to achieve her goal of getting 40 feet in the shot put, which she did earlier this year. She is throwing the javelin (123 feet 5 inches) and discus (104 feet, 10 inches) further than ever.”
“She helped me focus more on my long jump. She constantly preaches to me that I can do better and jump further,” Verdin said. “As she teaches me the techniques, I get better each time. On high jump, she works hard making sure I keep my feet high when I go over. In races, she teaches me to relax and pace myself, so we have a chance to win every race.”
Verdin and Lyons have been good friends since they met in the first grade at Southdown Elementary School. They had been teammates in basketball and volleyball from their sixth grade year in the Terrebonne Parish Recreation leagues through ninth grade at Houma Junior High School. They both joined the track and field team in the seventh grade following in the footsteps of their older sisters, Brittany Verdin and Leah Lyons.
When they arrived at Terrebonne, Verdin decided to drop volleyball to concentrate on the sport she most enjoys – basketball.
“I don’t have the love for volleyball as do for basketball,” she explained. “Track, I’m starting to get more into because I can go somewhere with it. I put volleyball to the side to concentrate on where I can make it in.”
On the basketball court, Verdin and Lyons are the classic point guard-center combination.
Verdin controls the ball, using her quickness to slash into lane. Lyons owns the paint, grabbing rebounds and throwing long outlet passes.
“It’s chemistry. We know everything about each other,” Lyons said. “She’s like my little sister. In basketball, it’s all about eye contact. Coach (Gregory) Knox stresses that eye contact is the key.”
As sophomores, Verdin and Lyons helped lead the Lady Tigers to a District 8-5A title.
This past season, the team was third in district, but still good enough to earn a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Verdin became the Lady Tigers all-time leader scorer.
“I feel blessed to be capable of having that record at Terrebonne,” she said.
On the volleyball, Lyons has earned her own accolades. This past season, she was selected 1st Team All-District while playing middle blocker and outside hitter. She led the Terrebonne to a share of the district title along with H.L. Bourgeois and Assumption.
That has not stopped her from trying to get her best friend to consider a return to volleyball
“Many times I tried to convince her to join the volleyball team,” Lyons said. “Last year, I talked to her, (volleyball) coach Ray Didier talked to her, Coach Nicholas talked to her. We’re still trying to convince her because this year would be the best year for her to join. If she were a part of it, there’s no telling how far we would have gone. There wouldn’t have been a tie for the district title.”
While track and field may not be their first choice among sports, Verdin and Lyons have grown into their roles on the team. Both have set personal and team goals for them selves.
Verdin is hoping for another shot at the state high jump title she won as a freshman and to redeem last year performance where she came in fifth.
“That was a real happy moment for me because that’s something big for a freshman to win a state title, and I didn’t think I could do that,” Verdin said. “Last year, I was nervous and I choked up. I was looking at the papers. They had this girl who was clearing five (foot) seven (inches). I was so nervous for the state meet, once I got there I choked up. Now, I just focus on what I’m dong and not worry about my opponent.”
Lyons is hoping to qualify for her first state meet. She feels her best bet is in the shot put.
“My freshman year, I was beat out in the shot put by a senior, and last year, I was beat out by a lot of seniors,” she said. “Hopefully, I’m not in the shadows of seniors like in the past. I’m in my own light right now. I’m really dedicated and self-motivated.”
For all their natural talent and self-confidence, it is the heart and work ethic that Nicholas wants her younger track team members to learn from watching Verdin and Lyon everyday in practice.
“They’re leaders as far as Houma Junior High freshmen look up to them,” she said. “They are two girls who are not going to lose. They have the heart to say, ‘I’m not going to lose.’ They fight for everything they get, and they work hard for it.”
Juniors Sierra Lyons and Alaina Verdin share the Field MVP honors at the Nollie Arcement relays at Central Lafourche High School on Friday. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
