A loss in the Northern Lehigh and local basketball family

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It is with sadness that I have learned of the passing of Denise Pierce, the mother of Northern Lehigh junior basketball standout Lucas Pierce.

I have written about Mrs. Pierce and her battle against a rare form of brain cancer several times in the past two seasons.

I know how much she meant to Lucas, the team, the entire school and community.

Here's what Lucas had to say about his mother when I made him player of the week earlier this season: "She's my inspiration," he said. "She's the strongest woman I've ever met in my life. She has had to deal with so much, and she keeps fighting. I play every game for her."

In January of 2011, Northern Lehigh coach Jeff Miller said this about Lucas and his mother:

"Basketball provides a release, an outlet, for Lucas," Miller said. "He's battling not only the typical growing pians of being a youg man and a young player, but he's also battling a tough situation at home. The town has had a a few fundraisers for Denise and everybody has pulled together for her. Like Lucas, she's a battler."

Pierce's former Northern Lehigh teammate Michael Hofmann, Jr. had some really nice things to say about Lucas and Mrs. Pierce. Here's some of an e-mail he sent me:

"I can say, without a doubt, Denise was an inspirational piece for the Dawgs over the past two years. I will never forget taking the floor against Pen Argyl on Cancer Awareness Night. As I led my team in getting fired up for the game, I looked up in the stands and there was Denise. I said to the players, "We all know someone who has had cancer, and let's go out there and get a win for Denise." We came home with a victory that night, and I could not have been more proud of my team.

"As Luke's teammates, we all understood Denise was not going to get better - it was all about how long she would last. It was comforting to see her at multiple home games this year, albeit in a wheelchair and frail. Truly, the good Lord works in mysterious ways, as he took her just five days after the Bulldogs season ended on a heart-breaking loss to Abington Heights in the PIAA playoffs.

"Thank you for listening to my story, and might I add that Luke is by far one of the mentally strongest individuals I know, just like his mother. She was an inspiration to many, including myself. I wish Lucas nothing but the best in his future playing career at Northern Lehigh - on the basketball court and on the baseball diamond."



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