🇬🇷SPORTS NEWS🇺🇸

Steve Lappas is a legendary former college basketball coach and current television analyst. Lappas was inducted in November into The Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Lappas is best known for his tenure as head coach at Villanova University. He has deep basketball roots in the Bronx, having played as the sixth man at the Bronx High School of Science team in 1971 winning a city championship. He would then play four years and captain the 1977 City College of New York basketball team.

Coach Lappas began his coaching career at Harry S Truman High School, leading the team to the New York State Championship in 1984. Steve Lappas continued to make significant contributions to basketball, including being an assistant coach under Head Coach Rollie Massimino at Villanova University from 1984 to 1988, helping coach the team to the 1985 NCAA National Championship. Lappas would serve as an outstanding Head Coach at Manhattan College, Villanova University and the University of Massachusetts. He has been inducted into multiple Hall of Fames. AXIOS

Chrysa (Chrysovalantou) Georgountzos is a senior athlete at Stoneham High School. She has played on the varsity basketball team since her freshman year and varsity soccer and lacrosse since her sophomore year. This year, as captain of the basketball team, Chrysa is one of the team’s leading scorers. Recently, in recognition of her skills on the court, Chrysa was named to the David Green Memorial Holiday All-Tournament team, a distinct honor for players from Boston’s North Shore. Her effectiveness on the Court has also been highlighted by the Stoneham Independent, which has run articles highlighting her performance in every issue over the last four weeks. 

Before her schedule became too busy, Chrysa participated in the Metropolis of Boston basketball league where she won Playoff MVP in 2024. Chrysa gives back to her community as a basketball coach for Stoneham Youth Girls Basketball In addition to her skills on the court and on the field, Chrysa takes five AP classes, and is looking forward to attending college once the admissions processes is finalized. She is an active member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Woburn.  Chrysa’s roots are from Messinia, Greece, where both sets of grandparents are from. She is the daughter of George and Effie (Duros) Georgountzos of Stoneham, Massachusetts.

Polixeni Tsiotos has enjoyed playing varsity soccer, basketball, and track at Winthrop High School. Polixeni delivered a dominant, lights-out performance last season, propelling her team with seven three-pointers and 21 points in a 51-32 victory over Smith Tech in the 2025 MIAA State Tournament. This season, as a senior year, she was selected a team captain and has played well, earning an All-Star trophy at the David Green Memorial Tournament and being named Winthrop High School Athlete of the Month for January 2026. Polixeni had an impressive scoring performance in The David Green Tournament and showcased her sharpshooting touch hitting six 3-pointers while scoring a game - high 22 points in a tough fought 38-32 victory over Gloucester High School. On January 23, 2026 Polixeni was mentioned in The Boston Globe 16 Stars High School section for draining six 3-pointers and scoring 24 points in a thrilling 58-53 over a very good Marblehead team. She is on the Winthrop High Honor Roll and plans to attend college in the fall.

Polixeni is active in her community in Winthrop having volunteered for The Elks Hoop Shoot and working with the recreation program. She has also volunteered at Brothers Deli owned by George Markos and helped serve over 1,200 free Thanksgiving Meals. She is an active member of Saint George Church in Lynn where she graduated from Greek School. Polixeni has attended the Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center. Polixeni enjoys her Greek Culture and loves going to visit family in Greece. She is very proud of her Greek roots which are in Kalavrita, Sparta, and Tripolis.

Alex Mitsakis is an exceptional hockey player at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Massachusetts. The eighteen-year-old excelled at the varsity level for five years and drew recruitment interest from multiple colleges. Mitsakis recently represented a team comprised of players from the Hellenic diaspora on the Greek Heritage Ice Hockey Team which participated in the prestigious The 2025 Amerigol LATAM Cup. Alex Mitsakis was named the Most Valuable Player of Greek Heritage Team. Alex’s hard work has paid off, as she has committed to play Division 1 hockey next fall at Stonehill College. Alex Mitsakis is very proud of her Greek heritage and has her roots in Karditsa, Greece.

Sophia Karras from Albertson, New York has excelled as a swimmer throughout her high school and college career. Sophia proudly graduated from Herrick High School and impressively earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She was also the USA Junior National Swimming Champion 1500 freestyle and a USA Olympic Team time trial qualifier. 

Sophia’s attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Psychology. She was a member of the Notre Dame Women’s Swimming and Diving Team D1 and swam all four years

Currently Sophia is living and competing in Athens, Greece represented by AOPF swimming team (Athletic Organization of Paleo Faliro) where she has made an immediate positive impact for the team. Over the last few months she reached multiple podium finishes in both the Greek National Open Water Championships in Kavala as well as in the Greek Winter Pool Championships in Alexandroupoli a few weeks ago.

Peter Psyhogeos is a 6’4” senior guard for the Bates College Bobcats competing in the NESCAC. Peter is a 3-year starter and 3-time member of the NESCAC All -Academic team. Peter has enjoyed a very productive career as a student-athlete. Bates is currently having a great season with a 13-3 record. Peter has played well all season in a recent game against Hamilton College he had 17 points, 5 rebounds and a block in an 83-75 loss. Peter then followed this game leading Bates with 18 points in an 89-84, big road win over rival Colby. He is proud of his Spartan heritage and looks forward to traveling to Greece upon graduating. Peter is an Economics major at Bates College.

Peter Douvres is a sharp shooting sophomore 6 foot, 3inch, guard for Baruch College in New York. Peter is a Flushing, New York native. As a freshman last season, he had a great season averaging 15 points per game,5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. This season he is off to a great start being named CUNYAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week in November scoring a career high 27 points and grabbing five rebounds in a 79-69 win over Maritime College. 

Peter graduated from Benjamin N. Cardoza High School playing varsity basketball his senior on an undefeated team that finished with a 30-0 record. Peter also traveled with SLAA Director James Pristouris to Greece for a basketball tour in 2022 and 2023. Peter is very proud of his Greek heritage and is from Zevgolatio, Corinth, Greece.

Every Kuriakee ON AIR WNTN Grecian Echoes WNTN1550AM from Boston “The Athens of America” The one and only Greek-American Sports show “THE BENCHWARMERS” Hosted by Greek radio legend Ted Demetriades, Bill Galatis, Nick Ypsilantis, and Nick Markopoulos.

Greek Hoop Scoop- Check out Greek Hoop Scoop an amazing Facebook site about all things about Greek Basketball. They cover Greek and Orthodox basketball tournaments, high school, college players, teams, and much more. Terry Poulos, was a long-time Sports Editor for The Greek Star and Windy City Greek.com as well as a Greek American media journalist.

The 2026 National Hellenic Invitational Basketball Tournament will be taking place in Chicago on March 27-29th. The NHIBT is celebrating nearly 100 years of Hellenic Basketball Excellence! You can find the NHIBT on the web for registration information,contact NHIBT.INC@GMAIL.COM or call 630-277-7641. NHIBT President Alex Kountoures is welcoming teams throughout the USA and Canada.   

The 70TH Harry Agganis Basketball Tournament will be taking place on April 17-19 at The Saint George Community Center in Lynn, Massachusetts. For more information contact John Meklis at 781-526-9200 orJMEKLIS@GMAIL.COM also Facebook AGGANIS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

Greek Idiom- Πάτα ποδέ κάπου - Stand up for something you believe in.

Greek Philosophy- “All a man’s affairs become diseased when he wishes to cure evil by evils.”Sophocles

Greek American Sports is looking for volunteer sports reporters/correspondents in high school or college to cover Greek American Sporting events in your community such as basketball tournaments, softball, volleyball, soccer, and more. As well as a profiles on outstanding high school talent in your area and state. You can do this! Don’t be shy!

Key Qualities:

• Strong interest in sports and your Greek American community.
• Clear communication and writing skills for reports and captions.
• Comfortable speaking on camera and presenting in a confident way.
• Basic video or mobile phone skills include: Some basic knowledge of Framing clear
• Send your submission to:usic, Lighting Awareness, Audio Capture minimize background
• Noise to capture clear commentary, Story Telling orally, as well as capturing highlights of
• Key moments of sporting event. Possible volunteer community credits.!
• You must have Kefi, Greek creativity, passion, and love your community

Send your submission to:  greekamericansports@gmail.com Greek American Sports (GAS)