KETTERING, Ohio — Archbishop Alter is no stranger to the OHSAA girls basketball state semifinals, having made the trip eight times before this year, with the most recent in 2017, before any of the current players were on the team. However, one vividly remembers the Knights’ previous success.

What You Need To Know

  • Alter is appearing in it's ninth state tournament semifinal

  • Freshman Maddie Moody is a starter, and knew she wanted to come to Alter since she was a young girl

  • Moody's stepsister was on the 2014, 2015 and 2016 state tournament teams

  • Moody said she remembers the energy and excitement around the team and wanted to be a part of that

The Alter girls' basketball team is all smiles heading into championship weekend, and part of the Knights' success is thanks to freshman Maddie Moody.

Maddie Moody stretches at practice. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

Moody knew Alter was the right place for her because of her stepsister, Hayley Combs, who was on the team from 2013-2016. Moody remembers going to all of her games as a kid, and it made quite the impression.

“It was very vibrant, the energy was there," Moody said. "And it kind of influenced me to come to Alter.”

Co-head Coach Chris Hart said she remembers Moody as a young girl and said those years have helped prepare her to be on a state championship team.

Co-head Coach Chris Hart gives instruction. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

“She said to one of our coaches the other day 'I’ve been around it since I was 7, I’ve been here around you guys,'" Hart said. "Her stepsister played for us on our 2014, '15 and '16 state teams and was a state champion in 2015 and 2016, so Maddie’s been around it. She understands what it takes to get there because she’s lived it with her sister.”

Moody is the only freshman starter for the team, a difficult task in itself.

Signage commemorates the 2016 state championship title. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

“It was very nerve-racking at first, but as I got warmed up to the team and the coaches and got to know them a little bit better, it was definitely very welcoming and it made me feel at home," she said.

But thanks to the support of her coaches, teammates and her older sister, she feels more confident than most freshman in her position.

“She told me just to still have fun with it even though it is exciting and a lot of pressure, still have fun because it’s the main goal," Moody said of her sister's advice. "You’re working hard to get something you deserve.”

Alter takes on Bishop Hartley in the Division II state semifinals Thursday at 8 p.m. at University of Dayton Arena.