NATCHEZ — Kiana Jones said playing basketball isn’t exactly her favorite activity.

The senior shooting guard for Natchez High School has been shooting hoops since youth basketball her elementary school days, but Jones said not wanting to quit is the most motivation she has in continuing to play.

“I really don’t like playing, but I can’t stop,” Jones said. “I guess it’s just in me.”

The sport she spends so much time with hasn’t negatively affected her grades. Jones currently has a 3.6 grade-point average and scored a 21 on the ACT. Good grades, Jones said, comes from using her eyes more than anything.

“I just look over the material — I learn by seeing,” Jones said. “When I read something, it just sticks in my head.”

After practice, Jones said she studies from approximately 7:30 to 11 at night. Though she’s tired during the daytime, Jones said she’s used to going to school and practicing tired. She also said she has no problem balancing schoolwork and games that fall during the school week.

“It’s not difficult at all,” Jones said. “I just know it has to get done, and that motivates me.”

The fear of being scolded by her parents, Shawanda and Daryl Jones, also motivates her, though Jones said she’s never actually gotten fussed at.

“They both push me,” Jones said. “I’ve been on honor roll even since I’ve been in school, so they expect it every time.”

NHS girls head coach Alphaka Moore said Jones serves as a team captain and is one of the squad’s best defenders and shooters.

“She’s always done all that’s been asked of her,” Moore said. “She has a job, and the majority of her classes are AP classes, but she’s always at practice. A lot of kids would make excuses about not having time, but she knows she doesn’t have time and still manages her time very well.”

Moore also said Jones’ attitude is the kind of attitude she hopes rubs off on the rest of her team.

“She’s a high-spirited person,” Moore said. “If something is bothering her, you won’t be able to tell unless you know her. If she gets tired or angry, she’ll just start to laugh. If she gets fussed at, she doesn’t show any disrespect. She just listens and fixes it.”

Jones said Moore can be tough on her players, but she enjoys playing for a tough coach.

“Sometimes people have tough days, but (Moore) makes it fun,” Jones said. “I like her being tough, because constructive criticism makes you better. She also knows everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, and she’s able to work with everyone.”

Jones said she wants to attend LSU and major in either sports medicine or kinesiology.