Q&A: Sarah Durdaller, Walton basketball player
Sarah Durdaller is a fourth-year starter who averages team highs of 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Walton Raiders. The 6-foot forward had a season-high 29 points and 15 rebounds in a 55-42 victory over Pope and a team-best 18 points and 12 boards in the Raiders' 54-47 Region 5-AAAAA loss Tuesday to Marietta.
She recently spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Q. What's it like to average more than a third of the Raiders' 50 points per game?
A. It's not a lot of pressure, but I know everyone's looking to me to lead the team. I feel I kind of set the tone for everyone else, especially the younger players who are watching me. They kind of base their attitude off mine and how I'm playing.
Q. What was key to scoring 29 against Pope?
A. Pope was a big rival for us. I was thinking this was the last time I'd play them, and I wanted to remember it. I knew I had to come out strong and play hard.
Q. Is this the year Walton can reach state for the first time since 1999?
A. It definitely is. We have a lot of talent this year, and though we have a couple setbacks now and then, we're starting to come together as a team.
Q. What's the best part of your game?
A. My rebounding has been really strong this year, and my work ethic has helped me a lot, too. I play soccer, too, but this year I've focused a lot more on basketball and on improving my game.
Q. What frustrates you?
A. I don't like it when people don't give their everything because I don't understand why you wouldn't all the time. You kind of have to work past the frustrations, though.
Q. What's key to winning tonight's region game at Lassiter?
A. We'll have to do the little things and play hard all 32 minutes of the game, not just one half.
Q. Looking forward to your scholarship to Furman University?
A. I'm very excited to start a new chapter and keep basketball in my life. I'm a little nervous, but more excited than anything.
Q. What part of your game needs most improvement?
A. My ballhandling. I want to become more of a true guard, instead of a guard/forward and more toward the forward side. In college, I'll probably be a tall guard.
Q. What's your favorite move to the basket?
A. It's got to be my spin move. I love being able to post up a lot and use my spin move off of that.
Q. How does this year's team compare to previous years?
A. We've got a lot more talent this year and have a lot more desire to play basketball game. We seem a lot more serious about it this year.
