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THE INTERVIEW WITH ZENA LOVETTE
Southwest Guilford, senior, girls basketball

Zena Lovette, 17, starts at point guard for the Cowgirls and led the team to a 30-2 record and NCHSAA Class 4-A state championship last season. She’s averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 steals and three assists this season, despite missing two games and being limited in four others because of a sprained foot. Southwest is 17-4 overall and 9-0 in the Piedmont Triad 4-A Conference. Lovette has verbally committed to Campbell University, where she plans to join Southwest teammate Jessica Pone, last season’s state title game MVP, who has already signed with the Camels.

Q: What are Southwest's team goals for this season?
A: We want to win the conference title again this year, win all our playoff games and repeat as state champs.

Q: What are your individual goals for this season?
A: I would like to be conference player of the year again. I was (voted most outstanding player) at states last year, so I’d like to do that again if we make it back. I want to play in college and go pro so that someday I can have my jersey retired at Southwest Guilford.

Q: What are your strengths as player?
A: I penetrate well, I’ve gotten better at shooting threes, and I shoot free throws well.

Q: What are your team’s strengths?
A: Seeing the open man. We like to help make each other look good.

Q: What things can you improve on as a team?
A: We need to improve our rebounding, especially on the offensive end. Our free throws need to get better, and better communication.

Q: What things can you improve on as an individual?
A: I need to work on driving to the left and not getting frustrated during games when things aren’t going my way.

Q: How do you think your experience from winning last year’s state title has helped you this season?
A: It gives us the right mentality. We have confidence that we can make it back to the states and win again.

Q: Do you feel a lot of pressure to repeat?
A: Yeah, I do. Everyone is after us this year since we won last year.

Q: After being named the most outstanding player in the championship game last season, do you feel pressure to be a star?
A: Yeah, I kind of do. This year a lot of the coaches we face know me so they play a box-and-one defense to try to shut me down.

Q: When did you start playing basketball?
A: My daddy got me started. I played rec league when I was 7 and started playing AAU ball when I was 9.

Q: Who are some of the players who inspired you?
A: When I was younger I liked to watch Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. But I don’t model my game after any one person, really.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?
A: Nope.

Q: Do you prefer Gatorade or Powerade?
A: Gatorade. Yellow is my favorite. Maybe red, too.

Q: What’s something that not many people know about you?
A: I look up to my sister for everything. She is 19. She goes to WSSU and we are just really close. We have a connection. I can just go to her or talk to her about anything.

Q: What kind of music do you have on your iPod?
A: Honestly, I don’t even have an iPod. I’m not a big music person. I mean, I’ll listen to the radio if someone has it on but that’s about it.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?
A: I just like to hang with my friends. But I like to watch SpongeBob when I’m at home.

Q: What’s your favorite subject in school?
A: I like math.

Q: What are your plans for college?
A: I’m verbally committed to Campbell and want to major in graphic design.

– Brian Carrington, Special to the News & Record