EFFINGHAM — Alyssa Martin always does three things before a basketball game: eats a sub sandwich from Jersey Mike’s Subs, gets her hair styled the same way and by the same teammate and says a prayer.
Every basketball player has their own ritual they believe will help them play well and Martin is cut from that same cloth.
Her ritual helped her have her best season yet this past winter. Martin averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game in her senior season for the Effingham Flaming Hearts. She also shot 61 percent from the floor, 32 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free-throw line.
With those numbers, Martin earned a spot on the Apollo Conference All-Conference First Team, a league that EHS won outright, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State First Team.
She is also the second of two Effingham Daily News Most Improved Players of the Year, after increasing her totals in points, rebounds and assists from the year prior.
Martin was one of two constants in the Hearts lineup this season.
Aaron Witges, one of Effingham’s assistant coaches, said whenever the team needed a bucket, Martin got the call.
She did all of that while being a top target on the opponent’s scouting report each night.
“What was different for her this year was that she was [one of] the primary targets. In the past, she was one of several primary targets,” said Witges, who interviewed for head coach Jeff Schafer, who was away recovering from surgery. “When we needed a bucket, we’d go to Alyssa.”
Throughout her career, Martin has been known as the player who never takes a play off.
Her work ethic and drive are unmatched.
Martin is also one of the most versatile players in the area — someone who can play numerous positions.
“I’m comfortable playing different roles and always try to give 100 percent effort every time I step on the court,” Martin said. “I believe effort is a huge part of becoming a great player and that’s something I have worked really hard to do.
“I’ve worked to develop this by putting in time outside of practice, getting extra reps whenever I can and constantly trying to improve different areas of my game so I can contribute in any way possible.”
Witges said that Martin has adapted since she first earned a varsity uniform.
“She’s always challenging herself,” he said. “She’s a driver and was reluctant to take a jump shot in years past, but this year, she took it when she was open.
“She was trying to open those opportunities to get to the bucket.”
Witges added that Martin’s timing has also improved.
The game just comes naturally to her.
“That’s not a stat you see, but her ability to time the plays and make herself more open [is second-to-none],” Witges said. “She’s an ‘energizer bunny,’ and always wants to go, go, go, but sometimes, it’s not always about going, it’s about when to go.
“A lot of the plays that we ran were two-person [sets] with her and Averie [Wolfe]. Getting her timing down was a part of that.”
Witges also credited her willingness to learn, calling Martin a “sponge.”
“I think that’s one of the biggest things,” he said. “When you go back and look at her past four years, I don’t think we ever once said, ‘Pay attention.’”
Martin didn’t earn a varsity jersey right away.
But it didn’t take long for the coaching staff to realize what they had.
“It wasn’t long before we knew she could score at the varsity level,” Witges said. “She made our jobs easy. Coming into high school, we knew she had natural talent. As a freshman, we were interested to see how that would develop throughout the year.
“We didn’t give her a varsity uniform right off the bat, but we knew that was probable as the season went along. We wanted to see how she would adjust to the high school game.”
That was no issue for Martin.
She also adjusted well in high-level games.
Witges remembers one during her sophomore year that really stood out.
“The game against Centralia three years ago; we were down late, got a steal and threw it toward the basket,” Witges said. “Once I saw that it was Alyssa that we threw it to, you knew she was going to make it.
“She’s just as cool as a cucumber.”
This season, Effingham finished 27-3 and 10-0 in the Apollo Conference. The team averaged 62 points per game and allowed 37. The Hearts also averaged 30 rebounds.
Following the graduation of four senior contributors from a regional championship team one year ago, Martin knew the team this year would be somewhat new.
That didn’t bother her, though.
“I wanted us to develop a strong rhythm and really grow as a group over time,” Martin said. “As the season went on, one of my biggest goals was for us to win the Apollo Conference, which we did.
“On a personal level, I came in determined to keep improving my game, be a consistent leader and reach my goal of scoring 1,000 career points.”
Martin accomplished that feat against Mattoon in December.
She ended her career with 1,441 points, 761 rebounds, 212 assists and 202 steals.
Martin is continuing her basketball career at Lincoln Land College in Springfield, Ill.
She knows the information she’s learned from her high school coaches will only pay off at the college ranks.
Martin wouldn’t want to play for anyone else and represent any other school.
“Playing for Coach Schafer has been a very rewarding experience for me,” Martin said. “I’ve always felt like he believed in me and pushed me to be my best, which has helped me grow a lot as a player and person.
“Representing Effingham has also meant a lot to me. I’m proud to be a part of such a strong program and I hope the younger girls can look up to us and feel excited about being part of it one day, too.”