10 questions with Kris King

Photo courtesy of Royal High WINNING SPIRIT- Royal High senior forward Kris King has helped lead the Highlanders to an 18-4 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the Marmonte League.

Senior forward Kris King is a vital member of the Royal High girls' basketball team.

An All-Marmonte League performer a year ago, King currently leads the firstplace Highlanders in points (14.6) and rebounds (6.3) per game.

Fueled by the play of King and senior guard Erika Ward, RHS enters tonight's game at Agoura with an 18-4 overall record and a 9-1 mark in league play. With a one-game lead over Newbury Park in the Marmonte League standings, the Highlanders control their own destiny in their chase for backtoback league championships.

Following her team's 83-53 victory over Calabasas earlier this week, the Simi Valley Acorn asked King 10 random questions, and she answered them all.

Q: This team has now won 18 of its first 22 games. Does that surprise you at all?

King: No, it doesn't surprise me. We're a very good team. We play together as a team very well. We've known each other forever, and our starting five has played together since the sixth grade. We have very good team bonding. We just click very well.

Q: When did you know this was a championship-caliber team?

King: That's a tough question. I would say last year. We've always been a good team with good talent.

Q: Can you explain Mike Kohl's coaching style?

King: He's tough. And he always wants us to work hard and do our best. He tells us to give it our all and good things will come. He always makes sure we work hard and play defense.

Q: How good is Erika Ward?

King: She's an amazing player. I love her. She's my best friend. I think she's an awesome player and is going to go places. She's done a great job for us.

Q: If you could eliminate one class from your school schedule, which one would it be and why?

King: Accounting. I've never been good at math. It's an awful class for me.

Q: Would you rather win a CIF title or go to the prom with the best looking guy in school?

King: I would rather win the CIF title. Basketball means everything to me, so I'd rather do that.

Q: How have you improved as a player since last year?

King: I'd say I'm more focused now that I'm a senior. It's my last year, and I want to do well. I'm on a good team with good teammates, and I just want to play the best I can for them so that we can go far.

Q: What exactly is a Highlander?

King: A Highlander is . . . um. . . . I don't even know. It looks like a guy holding up a sword (laughing). I don't know (still laughing).

Q: Senior Night is Monday at home. How emotional will that be for you?

King: Being my senior year and being that I've played with these girls for so long- they're all such good friends- it's going to be really emotional, very emotional for me.

Q: The perfect ending to the season would be?

King: I'd say to win backto-back championships. I want us to just continue to play the way we're playing right now. If we do that, I think we can win it again. The league championship, that's what I want.

As told to Stephen Dorman.