She's not on the court to make friends. She wants to make plays and do whatever she can to help her team win. Often, that means imposing her will.

"I don't take what the defense gives me," says Mack. "I take what I know I can get."

A determined senior, Mack is the Eagles' 6-foot-3, all-state center and the focal point of a SouthLake team looking to build on last year's successful campaign.

"I think she is going to be our base," says SouthLake coach Terry Batts. "A lot of people don't have 6-3 post players who will play at the next level."

Mack, though, will be playing in college. Just last week she signed with Western Carolina, a Division I Southern Conference program that she says was consistent in its recruiting message and loyal in its pursuit of her.

"They stuck with me the whole time," says Mack.

Mack is the first Lady Eagle to earn a basketball scholarship.

"To go to the next level is a blessing for me," she says.

Mack averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks per game as a junior and was a force on a team that went 22-8 and reached the second round of the state playoffs. Offensively, she was the Eagles' first option, as she will be this year.

"She can play with her back to the basket and has developed a six- to eight-foot jump shot," says Batts.

But always focused on improvement, Mack spent the offseason improving her footwork and her quickness in an effort to be more of an offensive threat and a better defender. "Her agility is a lot better," says Batts.

Given her production last year and her growing reputation as a post player to deal with in the Metrolina Athletic Conference and beyond, Mack knows that opposing teams will be strategizing against her. She'll be swarmed by multiple defenders most times she touches the ball. She'll probably be fouled a lot. And as much as SouthLake will be depending on her, the opposition will be looking to slow her. She's more than okay with that.

"I think that makes me have a chip on my shoulder," she says.

Batts says getting Mack the ball is important for many reasons. Sure, there's the chance she'll make a move and score herself, but there's more to it. Just getting the ball in her hands will open opportunities for others, too, he believes.

"We want to work the ball into her, and that will allow our shooters to get open looks," he says.

Either way, for the Eagles, good things happen when Mack gets the ball.