about playing your best at tournament time,” says the ever so humble Lenz.

Currently Prescott finds themselves atop the Middle Border Conference with a 10-0 record and sport an overall record of 15-2. The Cardinals enter the second week of February as the #10 ranked team in Division III. Prescott is poised to capture its first conference championship in almost 20 years and hopefully gathering momentum for a long tournament run. Lenz and her teammates hope this year turns out to be very special.

“Our ultimate goal is to advance to the state tournament,” says Lenz. “I just remember how disappointed we all were when we lost in the Sectional last year and we’ve been talking about going to state since then.” A season ago, Prescott finished 20-4 losing to Hayward in the sectional semi-finals, a result that has left Lenz and her teammates with a bad taste in their mouths. “We had a good year last year and remember how disappointing it was to be eliminated. We are shooting for the state tournament in Green Bay,” say Lenz.

No stranger to the state tournament experience, Lenz played in the Softball State Tournament last June, calling it among the best experiences of her life. However, for Lenz advancing to the state basketball tournament would be the ultimate accomplishment. “I play three sports because I love all of them, but basketball is my favorite and advancing to state would be a dream come true.”

Along with basketball and softball, Lenz played volleyball for the Cardinals this fall. Sadly, the three sport athlete is beginning to disappear from high school, but thankfully the talented junior has not embraced this unsettling new trend. “I just love the competition,” says Lenz “and playing three sports has really helped me as a person and an athlete. What you learn in volleyball is different than in basketball and softball and it just makes you a better athlete.” Lenz was also a dancer when she was younger and believes participating in dance helped her with her strength and coordination. “If I didn’t play three sports I don’t know what I would do,” says Lenz.

“I guess I just like being busy,” says Lenz. And boy is she busy.

A member of the National Honor Society and Student Council, Lenz says it is important for her to be “doing something” all the time. “I guess it sort of makes me who I am and getting involved in things other than athletics is also fun.”

A top 10 student, Lenz does not shy away from difficult classes. Advanced Placement Classes are the norm for the junior who is just as talented academically as she is athletically. “I think taking difficult classes is also part of wanting to always do your best or ‘be your best self’. I always want to do better and believe that striving to do your best no matter how difficult it may be is really important.”

As the regular season ends and tournament time approaches, Isabella Lenz will be working on her free throws and her pull up jumper. She will be working on her Advanced Placement World History assignments. She will make motions during Student Council Meetings. And she will cause headaches for conference coaches and opponents on the court and the field.

Isabella Lenz has quite a resume. 1,000 career points. 51 points in a single game. A Top 10 Student. A member of the National Honor Society. High School Student Council Member. The consummate student athlete.

And…she’s only a junior.

Photo from Prescott Girls Basketball Facebook page.