FRESHMAN EXCELS ON THE COURT
Freshman Alyssa Lewis leads varsity team to success ABOVE: Alyssa Lewis dribbles the ball during a home game against Nerinx Hall. She has been playing basketball since first grade. “It’s not really important to me whether or not I’m a freshman because on the court, we’re all basketball players,” Lewis said. (Photo by Grace Hensley)
TOMMY MARGULIS health & sports staff
W
hen Ladue girls basketball coach Joi Lathion first saw freshman Alyssa Lewis on the basketball court, she knew she found a good one. While she heard of a highly skilled freshman coming to the the team, she could not have imagined a freshman would play with the confidence and fluidity of a senior. AVERAGE OF 14.5 POINTS PER GAME The Ladue girls basketball team’s record of 10 wins and eight losses can be much attributed to the skill of the underclassmen. Among these underclassmen, standout AVERAGE OF 5.8 REBOUNDS PER GAME freshman shooting guard Alyssa Lewis has used her Ameteur Athletic Union basketball experience to propel the illustration by | GRACE HU young team to success. illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG “Communication is one of the biggest parts,” Lewis said. “It’s about keeping your composure in tough situaAVERAGE OF 2.2 ASSISTS PER GAME tions. I try to positively impact my teammates on the court and make them better players at all points of games, and so far, we have all done a great job on the court.” The 2020-21 team features multiple new faces following Lewis’s tips for success the graduation of prolific players from the prior season. Consequently, Lewis and her fellow newcomers have worked to make up for the lost talent. “I have to continue to “I always try to get time “The Class of 2020 is a big void to fill, but the scoring work and push myself in with one of my trainers power and advanced skills that Alyssa possesses are helpdaily. I’m nowhere near a couple times a week.” ing us tremendously,” Lathion said. to where I want to be.” Without seniors on the team, the underclassmen have been forced to grow at a rapid pace on and off the court. As a result of this, Lewis has taken on a large leadership role in order to aid her teammates. “It is definitely different without any seniors because people like Alyssa and Mya [Mann] have had to step into larger leadership roles,” freshman Emma Margraf said. “They have done a great job this year, and we’re lucky to have them.” While still early in her high school career, Lewis has aspirations for herself beyond the bounds of Ladue. As her basketball career progresses, she hopes to reach future generations of basketball players around the world. “Before a game I like “I typically always “I want to go all the way to the WNBA,” Lewis said. “It to listen to music take a nap before behas always been a dream of mine to extend my game overbecause music helps cause I like to make seas and influence people across the world to be the best me relax and get into sure I am well rested my element.” for the game.” basketball players they can be.” p
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