QUICK Q&A:  TAYLOR PAULSON, NEW LIFE ACADEMY SENIOR, BASKETBALL

How important is winning the Athena award? It's a huge deal. It makes me feel really good. A lot of athletes I've looked up to have won it.

What did you get? I got a plaque and got recognized at a banquet.

What was the best part? The banquet was really fun. I met a lot of really cool girls. Some of them were doing so many things, it made me feel like I wasn't doing enough.

What sports do you play? Soccer and basketball. I didn't play anything this spring because I'm going off to college next year. I'm too old to play on summer teams for those sports.

Best memory of your senior year: After basketball games on Fridays, we all used to go out to Applebee's and stay out late. I would always get nachos and share with a couple of teammates.

Anything else? I got the season rebounding record for our school. That was a highlight.

As a senior, how do you remember your first varsity experience? I was so nervous. I remember going into my first game and the coaches saying, "It's OK. Take some deep breaths." I was freaking out.

Two things you couldn't play without: Before every game, my dad had to tell me to "have the eye of the tiger." And in basketball, I had to have my black headband.

JIM PAULSEN