The first time Kristie Tiegreen played basketball was for Veritas Christian in eighth grade. In her first game, Tiegreen received a pass near midcourt. She was anxious to make an impression on fans watching the JV tournament.

Probably a bit too anxious.

“They passed me the ball, and I just started walking down the court, without even dribbling,” Tiegreen, a Veritas junior forward, said, laughing. “I worked to get better.”

Just how much better is the intriguing part.

Tiegreen said she didn’t worry about individual stats. She’s never even heard of fantasy sports. But Tiegreen’s numbers occasionally put Kevin Garnett’s double-doubles to shame.

For instance, Tiegreen tallied 32 points and grabbed 22 boards in a Dec. 29 game against Craig (Mo.) this season. It’s not a one-time instance. Tiegreen is averaging 18 points and 17 rebounds per game.

If you watch the 5-foot-8 Tiegreen play for Veritas, which plays in the Kansas Christian Athletic Association, you can expect the numbers. More importantly, you can expect to see someone who respects the game of basketball, just as other people respect her character.

“It’s the fundamentals and using your brain that helps me out,” Tiegreen said. “I try not to showboat, because I know at a bigger school, I might not be doing quite as well.”

What about your game has enabled you to keep putting up such outrageous stats?

A lot of my points are rebounds and putbacks. Just boxing out will get you those rebounds. Girls box out a lot, but sometimes you just have to push them out of the lane. You have to be strong when you box out.

What’s the strongest part of your game?

Probably boxing out and rebounding. I just get excited to box out and outjump the opponent and reach for that ball. I hate to get beat. I always think, “Box out, and I’ll get the rebound.” My dad implanted that in my mind. Every night after the game, he says, “Now Kristie, there were a couple shots that you didn’t box out on. You could have had two or three more rebounds.”

VERITAS CHRISTIAN JUNIOR KRISTIE TIEGREEN has been double trouble for opponents this season. Although she's just 5-foot-8, she plays on the low blocks for the Eagles and averages 18 points and 17 rebounds per game.

Your dad, Roger, is also an assistant coach for Veritas. What’s it like with him on the sideline?

He’s always coaching me on my shot saying, “Keep your elbow in and follow through.” He’s always yelling, “Kristie!” It’s always me he picks on. Just recently at a tournament, I got a little frustrated when he was yelling at me. When I get frustrated, it sometimes affects my game. Whenever he starts to frustrate me, I have to pull on my ear just so he knows that I’m getting frustrated. It’s my signal just to keep calm.

What have you learned most from your dad about basketball?

He’s told me that basketball is a mental game and you just have to keep your emotions out of it. You can get excited and get nervous, but you just have to play the same way nervous as you would when you’re calm. When you’re nervous is when you miss free throws. It’s all a mental game when you’re boxing out and rebounding.

What’s it like playing for Veritas coach Kevin Shelton?

He’s a great coach. Sometimes, I get so focused and so determined that I’m not going to miss a free throw, I end up missing it, and he started saying right before my free throw every time, “Kristie,” and I look over at him and he gives me a big smile. After that, my free-throw percentage went way up. He’s really good at getting you relaxed so you can play your best. He’s just a great guy to play for.

Since you apparently didn’t have much basketball experience in eighth grade, who or what got you started playing?

My dad played basketball, and my coach actually called and begged me to play because they only had seven girls on the team. They needed another. My dad pushed me because he loves basketball.

You also played volleyball for Veritas. Which sport do you like better?

I’m a very competitive person. I like how basketball is body-on-body and you get to push people around. Basketball is more of a physical game.

Where would you like realistically to see this team at the end of the year?

I’d like to end at least at .500. The record isn’t everything. Although it’s nice to win, it’s important than we improve over the season because next year, I’d rather be in a better position than the same position we are now. I’m just happy if we improve, and I think we have already.