Courtesy photo From left: Lady Tigers coach Deanna Jubeck, Lindsey Sissler Riley, Cash Management Officer Reliance Bank, Angela Heim (mother), Alissa Heim and Dave Heim (father).

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Lynnette Williams Spirit Award has now been presented for a quarter-century to an area high school girls basketball player who demonstrates a love and respect for the game, displaying those characteristics through interactions with teammates, coaches, opponents and officials.

Named in memory of the late former Hollidaysburg Area High School and Bishop Guilfoyle girls basketball player who died tragically from injuries that she suffered in a 1999 automobile accident, the award is voted on by members of the Gerald Spaulding Chapter of Officials who preside over games in the Blair Regional YMCA Women’s Summer Basketball League.

No player this past season better represented the spirit and gumption for which the award is named than Alissa Heim, a recent graduate of Hollidaysburg who overcame a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee while playing basketball two summers ago that required surgery. The injury sidelined Heim for what would have been her entire junior basketball season, but she worked tirelessly in rehab, and returned for her senior season, earning a starting guard position on the 2024-25 Hollidaysburg Lady Tigers team that won the District 6 Class 5A championship and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the PIAA state tournament.

Heim, the daughter of Dave and Angela Heim, was presented with the 25th annual Williams Spirit Award in a ceremony Thursday night at the Blair Regional YMCA. The award, which includes a plaque and a $1,000 college scholarship, is sponsored by Reliance Bank, whose employee representative, former BG basketball standout Lindsey (Sissler) Riley, was on hand for Thursday’s presentation.

“I just found out about this recently and I’m very honored,” Alissa Heim — who will attend the University of Pittsburgh this fall and major in business, but not play college basketball there — said about receiving the Williams Spirit Award. “I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to Reliance Bank and the YMCA, and extend my condolences to the Williams family.”

Alissa Heim paid her dues throughout her lengthy rehab process, which she said was a personal test for her.

“It was very difficult,” Heim said. “It involved a lot of hours, and it takes a mental toll on you that I didn’t understand until I went through it myself.”

Hollidaysburg Lady Tigers basketball coach Deanna Jubeck said that Heim provided an infusion of energy for this past season’s team.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Alissa to get this award,” Jubeck said. “She brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our program on and off the court. Being able to come back from the ACL injury the way that she did and become a starting shooting guard for us in her senior year tells a lot about her resilience.”

Heim has many fond memories from this past season.

“It was amazing,” Heim said. “I love my teammates, and this past season we had very good team chemistry, and it showed up for us on the basketball court.”

Williams Award winners

2001 Katie Bloomquist Central

2002 Melissa Sitman Bellwood-Antis

2003 Angela Greaser Bishop Guilfoyle

2004 Angela Greaser Bishop Guilfoyle

2005 Lindsey Sissler Bishop Guilfoyle

2006 Samantha Reimer Altoona

2007 Mary Forr Bishop Guilfoyle

2008 Amanda Ottaway Hollidaysburg

2009 Hannah Bourne Hollidaysburg

2010 Alli Williams Bishop Guilfoyle

2011 Shelby Reimer Altoona

2012 Rachel McClain Hollidaysburg

2013 Katy Leamer Bellwood-Antis

2014 Darby Lee Altoona

2015 Ana Hollen Bellwood-Antis

2016 Makenzie Wilkinson Hollidaysburg

2017 Karson Swogger Bellwood-Antis

2018 Taylor Leidy Juniata Valley

2019 Makalyn Clapper Penn Cambria

2020 Alli Campbell Bellwood-Antis

2021 Adalynn Cherry Altoona

2022 Leah Homan Bishop Guilfoyle

2023 Alison Hatajik Hollidaysburg

2024 Ayla Hileman Williamsburg

2025 Alissa Heim Hollidaysburg