Photos and story by Alex Harrison, Puyallup Tribal member
It was senior night at Chief Leschi, and a large crowd came ready to support the Lady Warriors for their last regular season home game.
Before the Feb. 1 game, the seniors were applauded for all their hard work and team captain, Puyallup Tribal member Alicia Pluff, was awarded a 1,000-point ball for her record smashing season.
That was not the only thing she was receiving that night. Pluff officially announced that she has committed to play basketball at Green River College in Auburn.
Green River representatives were at the event, and eager to present Pluff with her jersey.
Pluff said her favorite thing about basketball is playing in memory of her baby brother Zebidiah Izaya Ronald Pluff who passed away in 2011. She also enjoys showcasing her talent and hard work.
“Basketball helped me build character, showed me how to be a leader, and built a strong relationship with my little sister, Mylina,” she said.
Pluff added that she’s proud to be a leader on and off the court.
“To people (who) look up to me, know that anything is possible if you put your mind and the work into it,” she said.
Pluff’s mother, Michelle A. Simchen, said that she is proud of her daughter’s achievements, and as a fellow Chief Leschi alumnus thinks it’s a big accomplishment for the school and for the tribe to be able to send her daughter off to college with a basketball scholarship.
“I always tell her to keep reaching for the stars, and never give up,” Simchen said.