New Prague senior forward Paul Friendshuh recently completed his final high school season when the Trojans bowed out of the Class 3A, Section 1 boys' basketball tournament on Saturday. No. 4-ranked Austin eliminated New Prague 79-64 in the semifinals.

A game earlier, the Trojans staved off elimination by Kasson-Mantorville when Friendshuh banked in a three-pointer at the overtime buzzer for a 68-67 victory. The Richmond recruit averaged more than 14 points per game during the 2013-14 season, and scored more than 1,000 points in his prep career.

"Paul has always been very consistent. You know what you are going to get from each and every night," New Prague coach Aaron Jasperson said. "He has incredible ball skills for a 6-foot-10 player. He has averaged almost four assists per game for his career. That is what makes him so tough to guard man to man."

Not to mention his work ethic.

"He is the first one in the gym and last to leave, and always has been," Jasperson said.

Here is a closer look at Friendshuh:

Q: How many colleges were you considering prior to selecting Richmond?

A: I had several choices between colleges to go to, but I felt Richmond was an easy pick. Richmond is in the Atlantic 10 Conference, which sends several teams to the NCAA tournament, and has a great academic reputation.

Q: Did anything else sell you on Richmond?

A: On my official visit to Richmond, I met the entire coaching staff and team. The culture and attitude at Richmond is exactly the environment I want to be a part of. Richmond recently built a new arena as well, a perfect place to compete and play games in. Like I said, I felt Richmond was an easy choice.

Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A: Just like everything, moderation. I manage my time so I can get everything done I need to do.

Q: At my first varsity practice, I felt …

A: … nervous, but once I got playing I began to relax and just compete.

Q: What do you work on most in the offseason?

A: Increasing skills and strength.

Q: What were your goals at the beginning of the basketball season?

A: Continue to improve. It's always about getting better.

Q: To get focused for a game, I …

A: … mentally visualize plays I think could happen in the game.

Q: What is your favorite pregame meal?

A: My friends and I usually stop at Subway after school for an early pregame meal.

Q: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete?

A: When we beat St. Paul Johnson 83-77 in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament in 2011 at Williams Arena.

Q: Describe what is was like beating Kasson-Mantorville with a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime?

A: It's hard to have more fun than making that last-second shot in front of family and friends. It's weird, though. I didn't feel nervous before the shot (we needed it to win). I was still calm until I saw it go in. That game-winning shot was the perfect way to end my last game played at home in New Prague. We had a great fan base that night. They stormed the court afterward, an event I will forever remember.

RON HAGGSTROM