Shakopee leader Weiss draws on-court energy from naps, noodles

Senior Tyler Weiss leads the Shakopee boys' basketball team in scoring and rebounding in his final quest for a Class 4A state tournament berth.

The 6-8 forward is averaging 14.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He scored a season-best 24 points in a 63-60 victory over No. 7 Armstrong in a nonconference matchup.

The Sabers, with a 12-5 record overall in the regular season, are in a four-way battle with Farmington, Chanhassen and Chaska for the Missota Conference title.

Shakopee last advanced to the state tournament in 2005, when it won the Class 3A champion by defeating Richfield 57-46 in the finals.

Here is a closer look at Weiss:

Q: What is the best movie you've seen in the last year?

A: "Kung Pow." It's the oddest/ funniest movie I've ever seen.

A: ... "Versace" by Drake Tyga and Migos; "Baby got Back" by Sir Mix a Lot, and "Till I Collapse" by Eminem.

Q: Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me?

A: Shy; quiet; easy-going.

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

A: Getting ready for college financially and athletically.

A: To help my team win Section 2 in Class 4A and get to the state tournament .

Q: At my first varsity practice, I felt …

A: ... extremely nervous.

Q: To get focused for a game, I …

A: ... take a nap; I feel energized and ready to go when I wake up.

A: Ramen noodles.

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

A: When I hit the game-winning shot against Farmington last year. [Weiss hit a turnaround jump shot from just inside the free-throw line at the buzzer in overtime to give the Sabers a 67-66 victory in the Missota Conference matchup at Farmington].

Q: Who is your school's biggest rival, and why?

A: Usually Holy Angels. The games get physical and there tends to be more trash-talking than usual.

A: I just find open spaces in the school day or at home to complete homework.

Q: If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be?

A: Cheaper or free to get in to watch. It might make it easier to draw crowds.

Q: Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why?

A: It used to be the Dallas Mavericks because of what they did to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA playoffs, but other than that I don't really follow sports teams too much. [The Mavericks swept the Lakers in four games in the quarterfinals en route to the NBA title].

A: ... rich and happy.

Q: What is the best sports advice you ever received?

A: Forget about mistakes, life goes on.