Speed and competitiveness-two qualities needed for success in basketball. And Noble High School senior guard Mackenzie Heeke has both which helped her win the VYPE Moore-Norman Area Girls Basketball poll.

“I sure didn’t expect to win but I guess it just shows the love and support I have from my family and friends,” said Heeke who also ran track and cross country for the Bears until deciding to just  concentrate on basketball this year.

Her coach Lindsey Vanderburg has lots of kudos when discussing the three-year starter who transferred from Blanchard her sophomore year.

“She’s the kind of player that every coach wants,” said Vanderburg. “She’s usually the fastest girl on the court and is super competitive. When she’s on the court, she’s not there to socialize or make friends, she’s there to compete and win. She has great stats (16 points per game last year) but that’s not as important to her as winning.”

As a senior, Mackenzie is now a team leader and uses her passion for the game to help her get the most from her teammates.

“She’s really quiet off the court but when she’s out there, she’s so vocal and passionate and she does it in a way that gains her respect from her teammates because they know how hard she works,” said the head coach.  Mackenzie added, “I’m one that’s always pushing my teammates to do better even if they get mad at me because I know what they’re capable of.”

Heeke says she tried different sports growing up “but found basketball to be the one I worked hardest at and didn’t complain about all the time,” she laughed.

An Oklahoma City Thunder fan, Mackenzie’s role models have been former Thunder standouts Steven Adams and Russell Westbrook.

“Steven was kind of an unknown when he came to the Thunder and now he’s a top notch player which is neat and I’ve always admired the heart that Westbrook brings to the game,” said Heeke who has also played AAU ball since the fifth grade.

Mackenzie says she would like to average at least 18 points a game this year and be a good leader and motivator for her team and then after high school go to a junior college for a couple of years and move on and study criminal justice.