Fierro signs with Lewis-Clark State College

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Alyssa Fierro, Bigfork High School's 6-foot-2 post, signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Lewis-Clark State College women's basketball team next season, Warrior coach Brian Orr announced on April 25.

"I just felt comfortable there," Fierro said of her decision to play for the Warriors. "They have a winning tradition."

Fierro's basketball coach at BHS, Nate Hammond, said Lewis-Clark is a good option for her and a good fit.

"She had lots of other options," he said. "She could be an impact player right away. They (LCSC) use post players quite a bit, so she'll be utilized."

Fierro earned several honors in both basketball and volleyball at BHS, including being a two-time all-state selection for Class A in basketball and also receiving all-state honors her senior year in volleyball.

Fierro was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner in basketball and scored 871 points in her career. She averaged 13.1 points, 4.0 blocks, and 9.1 rebounds per game and helped the Vals to conference and Northwestern A Divisional titles during her junior and senior years. Her team also placed fourth in the state tournament in 2007.

"Knowing that Alyssa had so many offers to choose from (including NCAA DI), we are thrilled that she has decided to join our women's basketball program," Orr said. "Besides her size, the first thing that really stands out is her ability to jump quickly and that is one of the reasons she is such a prolific shot blocker. She can score with her back to the basket on either side of lane, and she is obviously an excellent rebounder. Her defensive skills are well ahead of the curve and just her presence on that end can be a difference maker. She is a great fit for our program and there is no doubt that she has the potential to be a tremendous player in our league."

Also in LCSC's league is University of Montana-Western, where Fierro's BHS teammate Hattie Bowen is signed to play basketball as well.

"It will be very interesting and fun, Fierro said of the possibilitiy of her playing against Bowen.

Fierro earned first team all-conference honors her final three seasons at Bigfork, and also was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in volleyball. She was selected to the Montana State Class A All-Tournament Team both seasons that the Vals made state, and she also was voted the Most Productive Player at the tournament her junior year.

"She had a great career," Hammond said. "Scoring, rebounding, everything." Fierro finished her high school basketball career second all-time in blocks in the state of Montana. She recorded 216 blocks in her four years at BHS. The record is 218.

Fierro is the fourth freshman recruit signed by LCSC for next season. The other three are Jasmine Stohr, a 6-1 guard/forward from La Salle who is the Washington State Class 2B Player of the Year, 6-2 post Krisi Voshell from Pullman, Wash., and 5-10 guard Tasha Bishop from Mountain View High in Meridian, Idaho.

"I'll have to work hard," Fierro said. "You have to step up and show who you are and that you're worth the minutes on the floor."

The Warriors lost four seniors from last year's squad, which posted a 29-5 record and won both the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Warriors were seeded ninth at the national tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight round. The Warriors have had 17 straight seasons of 20-plus victories and have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament 12 times in the last 13 years.