Recent Hancock graduates Bella Hebert (left) and Sierrah Driscoll celebrate with the National Club Basketball Association's women's trophy in Eerie, Pennsylvania, in mid-April. (Photo submitted)

EAST LANSING — When Sierrah Driscoll found out that her women’s club basketball team at Michigan State had earned an at-large bid to the national tournament in April, she was stunned.

“I was shocked because we lost in the regional championship, which was an automatic bid,” she recalled.

Now she had to get ready for the trip to Mercyhurst University in Eerie, Pennsylvania, for the three-day event.

“I just packed for one night,” confessed the 2022 Hancock High School grad. “I didn’t have confidence that we would do well. I thought we would just have a fun experience, enjoy the hoopla and come home.”

Instead, the Spartans turned the tables and came home with a national trophy. They defeated Syracuse in the first game, 38-36. Their final four opponent was Sacred Heart (Connecticut) whom they beat by 15 (60-45). They then downed Washington University (Missouri), 53-46, for the championship title.

Driscoll, an economics major with one year to go, was named MVP for the championship game. She shared that the key to victory was a good chemistry among the players all season.

“We were all friends,” she stated. “Practices were fun, and we all had each others back.”

Concurring with Driscoll was fellow Bulldogs teammate, Isabella Hebert. She graduated in 2023 and spent three years on a winning Bulldogs team with Driscoll. In her senior year, Hebert was named Miss U.P. Basketball for her scoring and rebounding prowess. This past April, she was named MVP of the National Club Basketball Association (NCBBA) tournament.

“Throughout the season we were played as a family,” noted Hebert, “and that carried over to the tournament. It was so fun playing with Sierrah. We are the dynamic duo. She is a defensive specialist, and I score the points.”

Similar to the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), the NCBBA is made up of college basketball club teams across the nation – more than 90 at last count. Different than the NCAA, there is no distinction between school sizes such as divisions I, II and III. A club team is a club team.

Tryouts for the team began in September and there were 15 women who made the team. Hebert and Driscoll said there were around 10 ladies who were cut. Interestingly, they were not the only Yoopers on the roster. Anna Nerat from Menominee was a part of the Upper Peninsula contingent as well.

They added that the team was student-led. They practiced twice a week. Once games started in November, they played in a conference with other teams throughout Michigan. They won their conference (10-2), which sent them to one of six regional tournaments. They lost to Ohio State in the regional in late March.

“We thought our season was over,” echoed Hebert. “So when we found out we were going to the championship tournament in Eerie, we were thrilled. It was the first time advancing for our club.”

The Spartans entered the eight-team tournament as the seventh seed.

“The tournament was very well run,” related Hebert who just finished her second year as a pre-veterinarian student. “There was media, interviews and it was live streamed. My parents watched from home. As winners we got t-shirts and hats and of course a trophy.”

She added that basketball at the club level is a great way for athletes to keep playing the sport they love with some commitment and have fun with it. Having a high school bestie on the team made it even better.

Driscoll agreed.

“It was so fun playing with Bella. I was very lucky.”