Trinity Episcopal girls basketball coach Fay Minor doesn’t mince words when describing the play of senior D’Asia Mitchell.

“My nickname for her is ‘The Beast,’” Minor said.

Mitchell combines an intriguing blend of strength, ball-handling skills and shooting ability to put up strong performances night after night for the Lady Saints.

Just this past week, Mitchell poured in a game-high 30 points in her team’s 64-21 win over Porters Chapel.

“She’s goes hard at it,” Minor said. “She plays to win. She doesn’t let anything distract her. She’s the full package. She’s rare, and you don’t often find players like her.”

Mitchell said she developed her competitive nature at a young age, when she used to play pick-up basketball as a 12 year old against 18- and 19-year-old boys.

“The boys made me tough,” Mitchell said. “They didn’t baby me, they told to get up and get tough. They also showed me a better way to do some things in order to get myself better prepared.”

Mitchell serves as just one of three seniors on the Trinity roster, and Minor said her do-it-all wing player sets the tone for the rest of the squad.

“I’ve got young players, and I’m eager to let me them play with her, and grow and learn from her. When D’Asia is in the game, I know we always have a chance to come back or win the game. She’s a coach’s dream.  That’s for sure. You don’t have to do a whole lot of coaching with D’Asia.”

Mitchell added she is more than embracing the role as a team leader.

“We have a young team,” Mitchell said. “Coach asks me to go out and lead by example, and telling and helping the younger players with correcting their mistakes. Just like my mistakes, we don’t want to make the same mistakes over. We’re trying to get ready for district play.”

And when district play does roll around, Mitchell thinks her squad is ready to face any and all challenges.

“We’re going to run district, there’s no doubt in mind,” she said. “We might get a couple of bumps, but we’re going to be just fine in district play.”

Minor, a former star on the college ranks at Alcorn State, said Mitchell’s playing days wouldn’t end at Trinity as she has received heavy interest from several college programs.

“Going to college, there’s a lot to learn; the game is a little more hardcore, but I think she’s ready to step in,” Mitchell said. “You’re going to have to face players with just as good of talent as you have, and it’s going to be an adjustment, but it won’t be a hard one.”

Mitchell said she plans to announce her college destination on Signing Day, April 12.

“I haven’t really decided where I’m going, but I know I want to study pre-occupational therapy,” Mitchell said.

Trinity will be back in action Tuesday when it travels to Franklin Academy.