Smack. That’s the sound that rudely welcomed Alex Kilmer to basketball. Just after tip-off in her hoops debut as a first-grader, the ball hit her in the face. But despite a rough start, Kilmer stuck with the sport and became a veteran point guard with a knack for leadership and a craving to coach.

Coach’s corner Kilmer is Lynnwood’s starting point guard for the third straight season. She brings intelligence and passion to the floor, Lynnwood coach Jody Schauer said. “More than anything, she’s a real good leader,” said Schauer. “She’s probably the best leader I’ve ever worked with in 20 years of coaching.”

On point Kilmer, who is 5-foot-5, joked that she became a point guard simply because she is short. But she enjoys the responsibilities that go with the position. “I really like it because you get to be a leader on the court and an extension of your coach,” said Kilmer, who averages 5.6 points, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals. “It’s kind of cool helping the girls out and directing them where to go.”

Coach Kilmer The most valuable lessons of sports are learning teamwork, self-discipline and leadership, Kilmer said. She eventually wants to teach those skills as a coach, and she’s off to a fine start. For her senior project Kilmer is a volunteer assistant coach for Lynnwood’s freshman team.

Favorite pre-game meal A turkey sandwich from Subway and a Gatorade.

Take a number Kilmer wears No. 23 in honor of basketball legend Michael Jordan. She admires how Jordan overcame adversity in high school, worked hard, remained humble and always had the ability to perform under pressure. “He’s really calm on and off the court and really collected when he plays,” Kilmer said.

Can-do attitude In December Kilmer got several girls from Lynnwood’s hoops program to volunteer for a food drive. In one four-hour session they collected 1,000 cans of food, and overall they accumulated more cans than any group in the school, she said. “It’s a good way to give back,” said Kilmer.

I wish I knew how to … Play tennis. “I’m just not very good,” Kilmer said. “It’s like there’s always a hole in my racket.”

Favorite TV show “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC. The hugely popular hospital drama ties in with Kilmer’s interest in sports medicine, and she likes that it’s set in Seattle.

Along came a spider Kilmer can’t stand spiders – at least some of them. “Not the big ones, but the little ones that can run fast. The big ones I can kill ‘cause they’re not very fast.”

Mike Cane, Prep Writer