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Posted Jan 13/11 - Pflugerville Pflag Athlete of the week – Itiana Taylor steps up for Panthers

Courtesy of the Pflugerville Pflag: Read story online HERE or see story below

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Itiana Taylor
Thursday, January 13, 2011 | by Chris Grant, Sports Editor

On a team loaded with seniors, Pflugerville High’s Itiana Taylor is a rarity, an underclassmen.
That does not mean, however, that Taylor is not a huge part of Pflugerville’s success. In fact, she is.

The junior forward is averaging nine points and close to six rebounds a game for the Panthers. She also is second on the team with 29 blocks and has 62 steals on the season as well. Her contributions are a big part of the reason Pflugerville is 20-4 this year.

“It’s been going pretty good,” she said. “We went through a rough patch, but we’re getting over it. We seem to be successful in our games.”

One of just four underclassmen on a team with nine seniors, including two who are bound for Division I programs when they graduate, Taylor burst onto the scene last season. In her sophomore campaign, Taylor was selected both the Centex and the district newcomer of the year. She says she has learned a lot from her older teammates and enjoys playing with them.

“It’s been good (playing with the seniors),” she said. “I’ve learned to grow with them and mature.”

Taylor also stars for the Panthers’ volleyball team, where she earned District 16-5A’s oustanding hitter honor this past season. While she says she enjoys playing volleyball the most, there is plenty she loves about hoops.

“I like the aggressive nature (of the game),” she said. “I want to be successful.”

Basketball, however, is in Taylor’s blood. She said that her whole family played the sport so it was an easy choice to follow them onto the hardwood.

“When I was four years old my mom put a ball in my hand,” she said. “I started throwing it and bouncing it. I’ve always been around the sport.”

With plenty of talent around her, Taylor hopes Pflugerville can improve on last year’s playoff run that saw the team go three rounds before being knocked out. She is also looking forward to gaining more experience that she can share in her senior season.

“I want to be successful as a player,” she said. “We want to win district and go to state. I also want to learn more as the season goes along that I can take to next year to share with the newcomers.”

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