MADISON, Ohio (BVM) — Alyssa Lavdis grew up in a basketball family, her father a youth coach and her older sister a player through high school. She would sit on the sidelines during her sister’s games and as her dad was coaching her, she would soak in all the action. 

At random points during the day when the whole family was home, her father would ask Lavdis and her sister to come shoot hoops with him out in the garage. 

The bond the three of them shared while shooting hoops brings back memories for the senior shooting guard at Madison High School.

“It was something we could all relate to,” Lavdis said. “We wouldn’t talk about basketball when we weren’t playing outside, but it did help us grow our relationship together.”

For Lavdis, she didn’t start playing basketball on a team until the third grade. However, watching her sister play growing up only made Lavdis want to play more.

“Whatever she did in sports, I wanted to try, so I remember watching all of her games as a kid, and I couldn’t wait to experience that moment for myself,” Lavdis said.

Growing up, Lavdis’ mother would film her recreational games on her camera, and Lavdis and her father would spend time reviewing the film afterwards. For Lavdis, those were her favorite moments with her father.

“Sitting there and watching film with my father would make me realize all the hard work had paid off,” Lavdis said.

Lavdis added her father is still her biggest fan, and he still challenges her on and off the court.

“He’s always telling me before and after games what I need to fix,” Lavdis said. “He helps me improve on my skills. He pushes me, and I learn if someone yells at me, pushes me and gets me to do something. My dad tells it how it is. That direct communication helps me become a better player.

“After games, we’ll watch tape together, and he’ll help break things down with me. During games, he’s the loudest fan. You can always hear him.” 

While Lavdis started playing the game at a young age, she didn’t start watching basketball on TV until eighth grade, and points to the pace of the game as the reason why.

“Playing the game at such a young age, it was hard for games on TV to catch my interest,” Lavdis said. “I view sports as games that are fun to play but not fun to watch. I’m more of a see-it, do-it type of person.”

As a senior, Lavdis is one of the leaders on her team, but her leadership role started back in her sophomore year.

In the 2018-2019 season, Lavdis did not expect to get a lot of varsity action, but in a close game against Jefferson — when a senior had fouled out of the game — coach Tedd Wagner put Lavdis in the game to replace the senior. 

Lavdis nailed two three-point shots to send the game into overtime, a game Madison would go on to win.

“I was an underclassmen coming off the bench playing with a bunch of seniors, and I rose up for the occasion,” Lavdis said.

She noted leadership comes naturally to her.

“I like helping people, and I like to talk a lot,” Lavdis stated. “Telling everybody where to go and where to be is something I take pride in. I’m always the one in practice who makes sure everybody is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. If somebody doesn’t know how to run a certain drill or play in practice, I’ll walk them through it.”

For Wagner, Lavdis’ helpful attitude translates directly to the success of the team.

“Alyssa is one of the hardest working athletes I have had the privilege to coach,” Wagner said. “We do a fitness test and in 10 events, Alyssa won or tied in six of them.

 “All Alyssa wants to do is win. She has willingly taken the best player on the other team to defend every game, which includes four girls that received All-Ohio mentions. We call her the glove or the shadow because she’s that good defensively.”

While Lavdis’ main role as the shooting guard is to shoot and score the ball, her shot wasn’t always perfect.

Two summers ago during the offseason, Lavdis and Wagner noticed there was a mechanical flaw in Lavdis’ shot. Her hands were pushing the ball away from the hoop when she released the rock, causing shots to not go straight towards the basket the majority of the time. Throughout the summer, the two worked on correcting Lavdis’ hand movement. 

Today, Lavdis’ offhand goes straight up in the air, instead of to the side when she shoots, allowing the correct ball rotation to take place.

“When I came back in the winter after working on my shot all summer, I felt the most confident I ever had been shooting the ball,” Lavdis said.

Wagner noted Lavdis’ work ethic both in and outside of the classroom.

“Alyssa’s work ethic is what defines her,” Wagner explained. “I teach her in AP calculus, and she is the same way. She wants to master every topic. She works hard on every assignment and they are done to perfection.”  

Lavdis was named the News-Herald player of the week for Jan. 29 after averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds and two steals over three games. For her, winning the award means she’s doing something right on the court.

“It was a great accomplishment because I didn’t start off the season hot,” Lavdis described. “Winning that award gives me confidence to keep doing what I’m doing.”

After high school, Lavdis intends to stop playing basketball, and instead play Division I softball at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

I am so excited to say I have verbally committed to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga to continue my D1 academic and athletic career. Thank you to all my coaches and family who have supported me.I am forever grateful and I can’t wait to see what the future holds💙💛 #gomocs pic.twitter.com/tz6vT2uRwt

— Alyssa Lavdis (@alyssa3243) September 11, 2019

The soon-to-be Moc has been playing softball since first grade, and had a 1.30 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 34 innings of work during her junior season before the campaign was cut short due to COVID-19. 

Wagner said he will never forget Lavdis.

“I have coached basketball and track for over 30 years,” Wagner noted. “I have had the pleasure to coach many outstanding athletes, and Alyssa is without question one of the best overall athletes I have ever coached. It is easy to say you want to win, but Alyssa is willing to go over and above to put in the work to win.” 

As Lavdis reflects on her final days on the hardwood, she says she has a lot to be thankful for.

“Never take things for granted,” Lavdis said. “I wouldn’t change the experience for the world.”

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