NATCHEZ — The big stage doesn’t faze Zyaire Ewing, but now the lights are shining even brighter on the Natchez High School senior center.

The 2013-14 Natchez Democrat All-Metro player of the Year, two-time Dandy Dozen selection and two-time Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state champion is looking to guide her team to their third consecutive state championship. Making that journey even sweeter, though, is the fact it is her final season in the blue and gold.

“This season is really special for her because she has been building up to this moment,” Natchez head coach Alphaka Moore said. “And she is having her best season yet. She understands that this is it and as a leader on the team, is leading by example consistently.”

Ewing is averaging around 20 points and 10 rebounds a game so far this season for the Lady Bulldogs, but in her eyes, she can do more.

“I want to maintain the goal I set of 25 points and 10 rebounds a game,” she said. “I want to play as a team and do everything coach asks me to do.”

But doing everything hasn’t been quite as simple as in year’s past.

“When you lose someone like Rashonae Rice, who was major on the boards, that is Zyaire’s area to step up,” Moore said. “Now, she has to do more than she has, but she has stepped up. She’s been prepared for it. People have been watching her since she was a freshman, and I think in that first game she realized, ‘Wow, everybody is looking at me to do this.’”

Ewing said she has done her best to block out all the surrounding hype of the team and strictly focus on her game, not a three-peat.

“I don’t worry about those things,” Ewing said. “I just go out there and play.”

Ewing is also juggling basketball with the recruiting attention she is receiving. A highly sought after recruit, Ewing has drawn interest from across the country. However, she is pushing her recruitment to the back burner.

“I’m really not worried about it,” she said. “I’ve kind of got my mind made up where I’m going to go, but I’m going to wait and finish the season and make my decision.”

Moore agreed that focusing on basketball is the best move.

“When you are so worried about who is in the stands and who is watching you and living up to someone else’s expectations, it kind of puts too much pressure on you,” Moore said. “I think she’s done a really good job of making that decision to just focus on her season and on her grades.”

As her senior season continues, Ewing said she just wants to continue to work on her game and enjoy the journey with her teammates.

“It makes the game even more fun,” she said of playing with her teammates. “Because then you know who can do what and who you are playing with. That just makes me even more confident when I’m playing.”