Sports

ATHLETE PROFILE: ALLISON LOU

Rosary Academy senior leads the championship basketball team as its captain

By Jenelyn Russo     1/29/2018

With a dad as a basketball coach and two older sisters who played the sport, it’s no surprise that Allison Lou has a love for hoops. 

“When [my older sisters] started playing, I wanted to play with them too,” says Lou. “Naturally, I went into basketball.” 

 

 

The Rosary Academy senior uses her point guard position to help guide the pace of each game for the Royals. 

“What I really like about being a point guard is being able to control the floor, see all of my teammates, and…control the game,” says Lou. 

Coming off of a CIF Division III state championship last spring, the first in Rosary’s school history, Lou and her teammates refuse to rest on their laurels and continue to push themselves. 

“We want to improve,” says the 17-year-old. “Every day is a day to work hard and get better.” 

As a captain, Lou promotes family and camaraderie among her teammates, noting that, “It’s much better on the court if we’re a team first.” The only four-year varsity player in the program, Rosary basketball head coach Richard Yoon leans on Lou’s scoring expertise as much as her leadership abilities. 

“Allison has all the skills of a competitive Trinity League senior athlete,” says Yoon. “Her knowledge of our defensive principles makes her a vital asset to the team. Offensively, she is capable of showcasing a variety of weapons. Not only a three-point threat, she has a mid-range game that compliments her outstanding shooting ability. As a tall guard that opposing coaches have to scout, she is capable of being the leading scorer in every game.” 

While she will miss playing basketball with her sisters, the traditions she’s experienced as a Royal have taught Lou as much as the sport itself. 

“Basketball has really taught me discipline,” says Lou. “Being a student athlete, it’s hard to balance your social life and academics while also playing your sport. Being disciplined on and off the court is really important and has taught me a lot.” 

As a Girl Scout, Lou has always had a heart for serving her community, and to earn her Gold Award, the Cerritos resident created a “community closet” for local homeless and families in poverty where they can obtain free resources. 

Lou hopes to continue playing basketball as she heads to college to study business marketing. She remains grateful for how faith has helped strengthened the bonds between herself and her teammates. 

“Faith has helped me a lot throughout the years,” says Lou. “Prayer together really centers us and brings us together in our faith.” 

Women’s basketball great and sports broadcasting pioneer, Ann Meyers Drysdale, inspires Lou both in basketball and in life. And it is her father who keeps Lou moving forward towards her goals. 

“My dad has always kept me going,” says Lou. “He has a saying, ‘kia kaha,’ that basically means, be strong and be confident.”