Mark Sears' mom: Meet Lameka Sears, the sparkling Alabama mom shooting free throws

SPOKANE, Washington — Mark Sears might as well have hit a free-throw to win the game in the final seconds against Florida. That's how his mom reacted.

Lameka Sears danced after her son made the first shot from the charity stripe in Nashville during the SEC Tournament. Then Mark made another. Lameka danced again, standing up during both shots. The crimson elephant on the center of her top shimmered as she celebrated.

Florida was leading Alabama basketball by 20 in the second half, but you never would have known it looking at Lameka.

“I don’t care if we’re down 100 points,” Lameka said. “If he’s on the line, I’m on the line.”

She’s not kidding. As her son shoots free throws, Lameka always stands up and goes through the motions from the stands, too. She’s been doing that since Mark was playing rec league basketball. It just has never drawn the same level of exposure as now; Lameka has gotten frequent TV time throughout a season in which her son put together an effort that earned him consensus second-team All-American recognition.

She has paired the free-throw shooting and enthusiasm in the stands with shimmery, shiny, custom-made outfits that have made her easy to spot. That won’t be any different this week as No. 4 seed Alabama competes in the first round of March Madness, facing No. 13 seed Charleston on Friday (6:35 p.m. CT, truTV) in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s a blessing because not too many people can be in that type of situation,” Mark said. “To have my mom be there to support me every game, it’s something that I’m always going to be grateful for.”

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Lameka loves a good Frappuccino from Starbucks. Vanilla bean with extra vanilla bean. She probably doesn’t need the caffeine, though. At least not to provide her energy. Lameka is enthusiasm.

“I’m just excited,” Lameka said. “This is just my personality.”

Especially when you get her talking Alabama basketball and her son.

“Truly to be able to see your son live out his dreams and his goals, to play for the state of Alabama, the joy of being able to have that chance that most people don’t get to have, it comes from just a gratefulness of being where we’re supposed to be, where God allowed us to be in the moment,” Lameka said. “It’s a joy from within.”

That joy includes volume, especially during games. Mark can often hear her while he's on the court, even when playing in big arenas.

“She’s like, ‘Use your legs,’” Mark said. “Sometimes I laugh in my head.”

He's used to it now. His mom has been like that since his early days in basketball. She hasn’t changed since then, even with her son playing on the biggest stage in college basketball.

“I’ve only gotten dismissed one time from a gym,” Lameka said. “And that was when he was in high school. … I had gotten a little upset with a call.”

She can’t help herself. Lameka loves her son and the joy he brings her.

“It means the world to be able to support him and let him know your dreams can come true,” Lameka said. “If no one else is there to see it, I am here to see it. I am here to yell for you.”

And she does. And that’s one way to measure her support, but hearing isn’t required to appreciate Lameka’s passion. Her attire gets that across too.

Mark Sears’ mom making the whole place shimmer

Lameka has her sparkle people. The ones on whom she calls when she needs a new outfit for a game. She has her places, the ones at which she shops when she needs new bling. Sometimes fresh sparkle is needed.

She has at least six or seven custom-made outfits. They all look different. One has the crimson elephant head. Another has “Roll” in script lettering on a Crimson shirt. Then there’s her son’s No. 1 jersey custom-made for her. All scream Alabama, and all twinkle.

“As long as it sparkles, I love it,” Lameka said. “I just love that. I don’t know why, but I love a sparkling thing.”

Look no further than her basketball purses. It’s a handbag shaped exactly like a basketball, and of course, it shimmers. She’s got a black one and a crimson one.

Lameka takes advantage of the chance to get her fashion fix at basketball games. She doesn’t have the same chance at work as a nurse.

“I may be in blue scrubs, but this mama likes fashion,” Lameka said.

She’s got a few outfits planned for her trip to Spokane. When she travels, she will be wearing a custom gray sweatshirt that says, “Mark’s Madness.” Then her husband and daughter will sport the same one for the game. Meanwhile, Lameka has another new custom-made outfit she will debut. It will also say “Mark’s Madness” but it will better suit Lameka for a game.

“It’s going to have bling because I love the sparkle,” Lameka said.

She will wear it as she yells for her son. She will shimmer as she shoots free throws from the stands. That won't change, no matter the score.

Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Mark Sears' mom: Who is sparkling Alabama basketball mom?