Q&A: Jarae Savage, North Cobb

North Cobb junior Jarae Savage averages a team-high 16 points, four assists and three steals and is a prime reason the Warriors (18-3) were on top of Region 5-AAAAA entering games this week against Cherokee and Kennesaw Mountain. Here are some thoughts the 5-foot-7 point guard shared with Michael Alpert, who filed this report for the AJC.

Q. How tough is your region?

A. It's a tough one. Any team can win any given night if the other doesn't come to play. We have to come to play hard as a team every night. There are a bunch of teams out to get us.

Q. Are point guards overrated?

A. No. A point guard is the game manager. Without the point guard, the team is all out of whack. The point guard manages the whole team.

Q. What's North Cobb's fan base like?

A. North Cobb has a big football-fan population, but then basketball season comes and our gym is still packed with fans for both the boys and girls games. They travel, too. There's always a lot of loud cheering, chests painted, Warriors head gear -- you name it.

Q. What academic subject do you struggle with the most?

A. Probably literature. It's a lot of reading and really time-consuming. Reading's not hard for me, but it takes me a lot of time. I have to squeeze it in when I can.

Q. If you were a foot taller, what sport would you be playing?

A. Basketball still. It's the only sport I've ever connected with and loved.

Q. What was it like scoring a career-high 30 points in a 62-54 victory against Marietta?

A. It's a great feeling that I really helped the team. But if we didn't win, it wouldn't matter. As long as we come out on top, it doesn't matter how much I score.

Q. Does success of North Cobb teams feed off one another?

A. Yeah. If fans are coming out for us, other teams will pick it up and try to get that same kind of support.

Q. Any thoughts on college?

A. I'd love to play basketball for any Division I college. I'm not picky. Of course, I admire the best -- the UConn's, Rutgers, North Carolina, Tennessee.

Q. Ever get nervous out there?

A. There might be a couple times I get riled up and need to calm down a little, but no, never really nervous.

Q. What's the strongest part of your game?

A. Probably me driving to the basket. When I'm on a fast break, I pick up momentum, and it's like 'Get out of my way.' It's hard to stop me.

Q. What went wrong in this season's only consecutive losses, to Cherokee (45-43) and Etowah (60-53)?

A. Our free-throw shooting was horrendous, and we just couldn't pick up our intensity. We didn't connect as a team. Next time, though, we're coming to get them.