Gregoire grows into 1,000-point scorer
Tamaqua’s Lucas Gregoire recently recorded his 1,000th career point. Standing with him are his parents, David and Ann Gregoire. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“A brother shares childhood memories and grown up dreams.” It’s a popular saying to many, describing the bond brothers share from childhood to adulthood.
For Tamaqua senior Lucas Gregoire, his time spent with brothers Gabe and Nate on the basketball court during his childhood and now high school years, has created some of his fondest memories. Gregoire also recently created a new memory, while accomplishing a dream, recording his 1,000th career point on Jan. 23 with a 27-point performance against Mount Carmel.
Gregoire credits a lot of his success on the hardwood to growing up and competing against his brothers.
“As far back as I can remember, my brothers and I have spent a lot of our time on the court,” said Gregoire. “We were always competing and battling at home against each other, and it made each of us better. I also feel really lucky to have played with both of them. My first two years with Gabe and now my last two years with Nate, and then the real special moment of Nate dishing me the assist on my 1,000th-point, I’m just really grateful.”
There’s no doubt that Gregoire’s battles with his brothers have helped make him the player he is today, but the Raiders newest member of the 1,000-point club has also made it a priority to work on his game each and every offseason. Gregoire saw limited playing time as a freshman, but in his sophomore campaign after earning a spot in the starting lineup, he showed his potential, averaging 12.80 points per game, while collecting 6.2 rebounds per game. Gregoire continued to get better, and a year later he averaged 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a junior.
This season, Gregoire has led the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game, while averaging just under 10 rebounds per contest. Gregoire’s work ethic, passion for the sport and ability to add different elements to his game each season has forever cemented his name in the Tamaqua record books.
“There’s no denying Lucas’ toughness and his love for the game. He works very hard; he’s one of the last guys to leave the gym and he plays a ton of basketball in the offseason, he’s always working to get better,” said Raiders’ head coach Jim Barron. “He’s really become a complete basketball player. He can post up, he can rebound on both ends, he can shoot the mid-range jumper and he can step out to the three-point line. To be able to do all that takes work. I’m very proud and happy for his accomplishments.”
To be a 1,000-point scorer, obviously a player needs to develop the knack to score, but Gregoire also worked hard not only physically, but mentally to develop another facet of his game that has supported him in the scoring department. Gregoire has been an absolute “windex man” on the boards for the Raiders, averaging an impressive 8.1 rebounds per game since being inserted into the starting lineup in his sophomore season.
Rebounding not only takes length, which Gregoire certainly has at 6-4, but it also takes a certain kind of toughness and mentality as well as timing to dominate like Gregoire has in the rebounding department over the past few seasons.
“I just tell myself when the ball goes up that if it comes off the rim that it belongs to me. I make it a point every night to try and give our team second and third chances to score and on the defensive end to limit the opponents’ opportunity to score by grabbing rebounds,” said Gregoire. “It’s just something I really work hard at, it’s just another thing to go out and compete for.”
