Former Ira standout Alyssa Goodwin now plays key role for Lady Texan basketball
Basketball can become a long season and former Ira standout Alyssa Goodwin welcomed the opportunity to return close to home Thursday. Goodwin, a student assistant for the South Plains College women’s basketball team, was on the bench during Thursday’s Western Junior College Athletic Conference game between the Lady Texans and Western Texas College at The Coliseum.
January 23, 2019
Story and photo credit: Larry McCarty, Snyder Daily News
Basketball can become a long season and former Ira standout Alyssa Goodwin welcomed the opportunity to return close to home Thursday.
Goodwin, a student assistant for the South Plains College women's basketball team, was on the bench during Thursday's Western Junior College Athletic Conference game between the Lady Texans and Western Texas College at The Coliseum.
A four-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs, Goodwin helped the team reach back-to-back Region 2-1A quarterfinals. Goodwin battled through an injured knee for most of her senior season.
Goodwin considered a playing career at McMurry University, but surgery changed her mind and plans. She finished her playing career after last summer's Sixman Coaches Association all-star game. Goodwin enrolled at South Plains College and joined the basketball program.
"I have enjoyed the experience," Goodwin said after Thursday's game. "Coach (Cayla) Petree is very good at what she does and I believe this experience will help me. I enjoy organizing and planning things. I could pursue a career as a director of operations or maybe something associated with basketball."
Goodwin said one of the lessons during the season has been learning the importance of preparation.
"It's very different from high school," she said. "I didn't realize how much preparation it takes and you must do that to win. It was not like this in high school."
Goodwin spent little time on the bench during her playing career, except when her knee became a problem, and said the adjustment of watching from the bench was not a big adjustment.
"This is more fun than I thought it would be watching from the bench," she said. "It's a new experience. I do a lot of laundry and make sure before the game the players have everything they need. Sometimes I set up the equipment so the players can watch film. I also put the stat sheets together. I'm like mom, take care of everyone and make sure everything is in order."
Goodwin helps keeping statistics on the bench, a job she learned while doing it for the football team at Ira.
"I do some stats, like turnovers and write down the type of fouls by each player," she said. "It is just a part of what I do for the team."
Goodwin met with her family and Ira friends after the game.
"I'm glad I saw my family and friends again, I miss them," she said. "I stay busy. I'm excited that they came to the game, so I could visit with them. We got two weeks off at Christmas and that was the last time I could do that."