Alena Cofield is known as the funny one on the Neshaminy basketball team.

The junior guard can always be counted on to lighten the mood when things get a little too serious on the court.

But if you had told Cofield two years ago that she would be starting for the Neshaminy girls basketball team, she would have laughed.

And, funnily enough, it all started as a joke.

“My friend and I were looking for activities to join freshman year because we kept hearing how important it was to build a resume for college admissions,” said Cofield, who had only played basketball briefly in middle school. “We just happened to see a posting from the basketball team looking for new players to come out and my friend jokingly said, “Oh let’s try this.’”

The day of tryouts, her friend bailed. Cofield decided to go alone. She couldn’t take more than two consecutive dribbles and she couldn’t shoot at all.

She made the team.

“I really knew nothing about basketball and was surprised that I wasn’t cut,” said Cofield, who started on the JV team. “I was really bad back then, but I could see how much fun basketball really was.”

Neshaminy coach John Gallagher is no stranger to spotting raw talent.

“Her speed was phenomenal,” Gallagher said of Cofield, who also runs track.

Cofield quickly began to dominate her JV opponents on defense, though she was still limited offensively.

Cofield’s breakout game came at an unlikely time — in the state playoffs. With the outcome decided in Neshaminy’s first-round game, Cofield played the final two minutes. She packed four offensive rebounds and two steals in that time.

“(Her performance) got me thinking that she was a hidden talent,” Gallagher said. “The only concern I had was if she was committed to improving herself.”

Cofield quickly answered that question.

“I really appreciated the challenge of basketball after having track come so easily to me,” Cofield said. “I worked out at home, I had my mom look for trainers, and I asked Coach Gal (Gallagher) to help me find an AAU team.”

Neshaminy’s JV coach Nick Reisig was a huge factor in Cofield’s development, as she spent many hours working with him in the offseason.

“If it weren’t for Coach Nick working with me the entire summer and taking time out of his to help me, I don’t think I would be nearly as good as I am today,” Cofield said.

Cofield opened her sophomore season as a starter on varsity, and as a junior guard she is leading Neshaminy (8-3) in steals, has become more involved in the offense and guards the opposing team’s top player.

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Bringing her talents to the Neshaminy Academy of Basketball

Cofield is sharing her basketball knowledge with the younger generation at the Neshaminy Academy of Basketball.

While Cofield works with girls up to sixth grade, she’s found the most contentment in working with the younger kids.

“You really develop strong relationships with the young players,” said Cofield, who has three younger and two older siblings. “They come to our games and it’s so great to hear them cheering when we’re playing. They really look up to us and are in awe of us.”

Cofield’s younger sister is no exception.

“She’s a huge Reese (Zemitis) and Lola (Ibarrondo) fan,” Cofield said with a laugh. “After our games, all I hear about is Reese and Lola!”

Cofield admits to being a little star-struck when she first saw Zemitis and Ibarrondo, now seniors, play.

“It was fascinating watching Lola off the ball, and I just watched Reese shoot the ball,” Cofield said. “They had so much confidence.”

The trust of her teammates and coaches has helped Cofield with her confidence, something she had never struggled with in track, where she competes in the 100-, 200- and 600-meter runs and holds the school's freshman record in the long jump.

And after she conquered basketball, Cofield decided it was time for a new challenge.

“I’m in the ceramics club at school,” Cofield said. “It’s just a great way to relax and relieve stress, but I’m thinking about taking it as an elective next year, and entering art shows.”

Typically though, it’s Cofield that’s relieving her teammates’ stress and helping them to relax.

“I do like to joke around with my teammates and keep things light when things are getting too serious.”

Her head coach is a big fan of Cofield’s comedic stylings.

“Alena is one of the most endeared players on our team,” Gallagher said.  “She is very affable and funny, which her teammates and coaches appreciate.”

When she isn’t playing basketball, Cofield might be found refining her favorite healthy pumpkin muffin recipe, lifting weights, or refining her ceramics skills by making gifts for her family and friends.

At the top of that list? That friend from freshman year who suggested trying out for basketball.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Girls High School Basketball: Alena Cofield major factor for Neshaminy