WNCC's Douglas Shines at All-Star Game

Western Nebraska Community College Ale'jah Douglas earned the Patrick Harrington 3-D award for her Dedication, Determination and Drive during the NJCAA Women's Basketball Association All-star game in Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend in helping her Dream team win the 4-team weekend series.

Douglas, who will be returning to WNCC in the fall and hails from Omaha, helped her team win 86-72 over the Storm in Saturday's championship. Douglas played against her current Cougar teammate Payton Fields in the title game. WNCC assistant basketball coach Isaac Lu coached the Dream team in the all-star weekend.

"It was a fun experience to play in the all-star game," Douglas, who had 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the title game, said. "The competition was good being that I got to see where my game was at as well as the things I need to work on within my game."

Douglas was honored to receive the Patrick Harrington #-D award.

"The award was the 3D award and it means a lot being that I put in a lot of work and will to do so," she said.

Fields also had a productive game in the title game against her current teammate and coach. Fields had five points, five rebounds, and two steals for the Storm against the Dream.

Both Fields and Douglas will be back for the Cougar women's basketball team that went 2-1 at the NJCAA national tournament including topping No. 1 Jones College.

Lu said it was an honor to coach and watch the Top 40 returning players compete.

"The players who competed this weekend are all highly talented, coachable, and worked extremely hart to get here," Lu said. I'm excited to see what the future holds for all of them."

For Lu, who was in his first-year as an assistant a year ago for the Cougars, said it was a pleasure to coach in the game. He got the opportunity because WNCC head coach Chad Gibney nominated him.

"I want to give a big thank you to Coach Gibney for nominating me to coach in the all-star games this weekend," he said. "I'm extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to coach some of the top players in the country. "It was a lot of fun and I was able to gain a lot from the experience. I enjoyed coaching my group of girls especially. They played hard, brought a high level of energy, and were able to lead us to victory."

Lu said while his team, which included Douglas, won the 4-team tourney, it was fun to watch Fields play against them on the other team. Lu said that was a fun game to watch.

"It was fun to see Ale'jah and Payton's teams match up against each other," he said. "Both showed great things this weekend and I'm excited for them to get back to campus this fall."