Interview with Ipswich Force center Soana Lucet
How is your season going so far? Well we had a rough start but I think that we have gotten better as a team but we just have a hard time starting strong, it's always when our backs are against the wall that we start to step up. So I think this weekend will be a good test for us to see if as a team we can get it done from the beginning. You enter Ipswich straight after a full season playing in Germany and the Eurocup, how do you adjust mentally and physically? I mean I'm not going to lie having 2 practices a week instead of 9 was major on my body and also mentally. Also with that free time I get to work on my game individually which is key before going back to Europe. What you think of Brad George as a coach and did you have to make adjustments on your game? I am thankful that he gave me this opportunity. I did have to make a couple adjustments as far as brad wanting me to play the 5 and post up opposed to in Europe I NEVER play post up lol my coach in Europe has me stretched out to the 3pt line. Defensively as well in Europe we play very aggressive and our whole defense relies on denies and help side but also it's tough because we only have 2 team practices here so there is so much we can do. On the partnership between you and fellow import Shenneika Smith on and off the court. How do you compliment each other playing styles? I think she is a great threat offensively, she has great hands and has a great vision of the court so we don't need to look at each other to know that the ball is coming and she is a funny person so it's always a great time with her as well as with the rest of the team. The girls are always happy and it makes it funner to work with them, just a group of great girls. Explain to us how a young girl from a lesser known basketball region like New Caledonia goes to a college conference like Pac-12 to ending up playing in the best leagues in Europe? Well when I first got introduced to basketball when I was 15 I instantly fell in love with the game and 2 years later I was starting to have big dreams to the eyes of others: being a professional basketball player! In November 2006 I got recruited by an assistant coach from Oregon State but unfortunately since I didn't speak English I had to go to a junior college so January 2007 I landed in twin falls Idaho and went to College of Southern Idaho for two years. After that I went to the University of Arizona and so in 2011 I was able to realize my dream.
What was the most important attributes u needed to excel in basketball?
I would say the Will and the Heart!
Would you consider representing New Caledonia at international level?
It's not that I don't want to but I went through some really tough injuries that took me years to get through and basketball is my passion but it's also my job and I can't afford to get injured as long as I play professionally.
On last week game against Toowoomba how did in go for a team and individual perspective?
Well I think as a team we have shown that everybody can score on the team so it's a great advantage for us but we still have to work very hard on defense as far as owning the boards on both ends and keep being aggressive and not having our laps where we allow the other team to come back or a player to go off. We really have to adjust else it will be ugly when we play the top teams.
On this week's game vs Cairns, what do you need to do from your end to win this game?
As a team we need to play our best defense thus far, individually just try to do whatever the team needs me to do on both ends.
