School: Lincoln

Kimetria Hayden

What she did: Hayden scored a team-high 21 points as Lincoln downed No. 2 Waco Midway, 59-49, in the regional final Saturday to advance to state for the seventh time in 10 years.

The stats: Hayden averages 17.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Who she is? Hayden is a versatile 5-11 junior forward. She was SportsDay's Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2006.

She said it: "Usually, I would be just sitting on the couch looking at TV, but I said I want to go to state my junior year, so let me get off the couch, go outside and work on the things I need to work on: my left hand and my jumpers."

Coach said it: "There's no doubt in my mind that she's the best player in the state and probably one of the best in the country."  – Michael Ensley

Did you know? Hayden's brother, Kevin Busby-Hayden, graduated from Spruce in 2007 and attends McLennan Community College in Waco. He also wore No. 4. ... Her nickname is Na-Na.