Wauconda junior guard Alexia Manalo prefers to keep busy.
A three-sport athlete, Manalo also plays AAU basketball, volunteers as a coach in the Bulldogs’ feeder program and performs in the school’s marching band. So free time is rare.
“I like to stay active, but with marching band some nights, especially back to back, I really have to stay on top of things,” she said. “I sometimes have to take a moment for myself because mentally comes first.
“Having a lot of commitments has mainly taught me to be more responsible, especially with AP classes. I have to communicate well with others. It’s given me more confidence with basketball by talking to different people and asserting myself more.”
Manalo, who said she has a 4.57 GPA, is definitely asserting herself on the court this season. Wauconda coach Jaime Dennis said Manalo makes a difference in a number of ways.
“She brings so much leadership and confidence,” Dennis said. “She really does run the floor and the team. When we take her off the court, even for a minute, we kind of fall apart.
“She’s also one of our best defenders. She’s always guarding the other team’s best guard.”
Manalo is averaging 3.6 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 3.8 deflections for the Bulldogs (13-2, 6-1), who are in second place in the Northern Lake County Conference. Dennis is confident Manalo could score more points if the team needed that from her.
“I think the team is definitely doing better, and we have different players who can finish, and we share the ball a lot,” Manalo said. “This year I’ve been more aware of what the team needs in certain situations, and now I’m more willing to give the ball up and just focus on the little things, like defense or passing the ball.
“My defense is really important to the team because I usually guard the other team’s fastest player and usually help with bigger players as well. So I have to not only run the floor but get back on defense.”
Wauconda senior guard/forward Grace Parker, who is averaging 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals, said Manalo is an ideal floor leader.
“Alexia brings a lot of leadership to the team, whether it’s calling out plays, reminding people when our games are or what color we are wearing,” Parker said. “Alexia handles the ball so well that I know I don’t have to worry about her getting trapped or stuck while bringing the ball up. Her defense also brings a lot to the team, and since she’s so fast, she can get steals.”
Wauconda senior forward Emma Wisniewski, who is averaging 8.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals, agreed that Manalo makes an impact all over the court.
“Alexia brings a lot of energy,” Wisniewski said. “She ups the tempo of the game, and she’s a very good ballhandler. With her speed, she can beat the defense, giving us an odd-man break. She sees openings within the defense and can dribble through or get a quick pass to one of her teammates.
“She’s very unselfish, and she tries to bring other stats to the team besides points. She hustles back on defense and will pick up and stop opponents who are 6-foot or taller.”
Manalo also plays golf and runs track. She said golf has helped her appreciate the importance of staying levelheaded.
“Golf is a mental sport, but it’s so complicated,” she said. “It’s about highs of highs and lows of lows. You have to keep a positive attitude so you don’t bring down your performance and drag down the team.”
Wauconda doesn’t have to worry about that with Manalo on the court.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
