North Easthope’s Alexis Hinds making a name for herself in competitive women’s basketball

Pictured in August 2023 after winning championship trophies with her junior dragster are, from left, Alexis, Melissa and Avery Hinds with their two farm pets looking on. It just shows from dragsters to basketball, Alexis Hinds excels in whatever she sets her mind to. Gary West photo

By Gary West

In the summer of 2023, word was circulating around Perth County’s North Easthope Township about a teenage farm girl who was lighting up the dragster racing circuit.

Fast forward to the summer of 2024 and that same teenager, Alexis Hinds, was burning up the stats sheet in basketball. Recently, she signed on with Lambton College’s women’s basketball program. According to her mother, Melissa Hinds, Alexis Hinds found the love of basketball by watching her younger sister, Avery Hinds, who has always been a star basketball player herself.

It all started with the Heavenly Hoops program offered by Stratford’s Bethel Church 10 years ago.

 It was the start of the Hinds family’s journey to loving the sport of basketball. According to her mom, after watching younger sister, Avery Hinds play her first season, “Alexis was hooked and joined the following year.”

“Her first coach, Katie Kneider, was amazing and always encouraging and helped to anchor the importance of team,” Melissa Hinds said.

Alexis Hinds loved playing in this program that was made up of boys and girls of all different abilities.

Her mother said she soon blossomed and she realized that both girls really enjoyed the sport, so they signed them up for the Hoops for Fun program in Stratford as well.

The following season, they tried out for the Stratford Revolution’s club teams and, under coaches Tracy James-Britton and Jennifer Yantzi, Alexis Hinds began to find her space as a point guard developing her ball-handling and ability to read the court at the age of 13.

St. Michael Catholic Secondary School’s senior basketball coach, Steve Goforth, watched her play a game, and had her convinced to attend St. Mike’s the following year and play for the senior team under his tutelage.

From Grade 10 until this year‘s final high-school basketball performance as a fifth year, Alexis Hinds has become a force on the court, according to her coach. The connection and relationship she has formed with him has contributed very much to her success.

He is her biggest fan and he knows how to coach her in a way that encourages her to continue striving for improvement. Alexis Hinds has always been noticed on the court. She has earned captain status for her teams and, in tournaments, she is often rewarded with the MVP award.

College coaches have approached Alexis Hinds since Grade 10, but it was Lambton College and coach Janine Day that held her heart. Day made a point of staying in contact with Alexis Hinds throughout her basketball career, often coming to games at St. Mike’s and reaching out about results or offering tips.

Once Alexis Hinds focussed on her career path in firefighting, the decision became easy. Lambton College offers one of the best fire programs in Ontario and their women’s basketball team is one of the top-ranked teams as well.

On Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, Alexis Hinds, accompanied by her family and Goforth, gathered in the Lambton Lions gym as she signed to play for the team next season. A dream come true and, according to her mother, they are beyond proud of Alexis Hinds as her lifelong dream has come true.

Mom says she truly eats, breathes, sleeps and loves basketball.

From racing dragsters to sinking basketballs, a North Easthope farm girl is making Perth County proud!