NATCHEZ — Whether it’s her girls basketball coach at school or her mother at home, Adams County Christian School senior Rachel House always has someone pushing her.

But the A-B student insisted that Lady Rebels coach Melanie Hall and her mother, Laurie House, aren’t quite as demanding of her as she is of herself.

“I don’t get frustrated with them, I get frustrated at myself if I don’t make the grade I want or I don’t do as good as I want in the game,” House said.

Self-motivation is something Hall said she’s observed in House in her two seasons of coaching her.

“I think the Good Lord has given her an inner strength to be self-motivated and disciplined,” Hall said.

That motivation, House said, stems from her desire to not have anyone beat her in anything.

“I just want to do my best,” House said. “I’m not a slacker. I’m competitive, and I don’t want to be outdone.”

When she does need that extra push at home, though, House said her mother is there to provide it.

“She has very high standards,” House said. “She’s always asking if I did my homework and what grades I have. She wants me to have all A’s — C’s are not allowed — but it’s never come to the point where I had a bad grade and couldn’t do anything.”

But when she does well, House said her mother is quick to give her credit.

“If I have all A’s, she takes me shopping in Baton Rouge,” House said.

House has been a migrator of sorts. She began school in Monterey before going to Vidalia for one year. She began at Huntington School in sixth grade and stayed there until eighth grade, when the school closed down. She then spent several years at Trinity Episcopal Day School before going to ACCS for her junior and senior year.

“I’m happy here,” House said about ACCS. “It’s been my favorite school for sure.”

Hall said she’s been happy to have House on the team and that she’s been a pleasure to coach.

“She’s been such a blessing,” Hal said. “She works hard all of the time and doesn’t take a play off. She gives everything she has all the time — on the court and in the classroom.”

House said she likes having a coach like Hall who will push her to be the best player she can be.

“I love playing for her,” House said. “She’s so encouraging and is such a good role model. She’s tough on her players, but that’s a good thing, because she wants us to do our best.”

The best part about basketball is the unity she feels between herself and her teammates, House said. As a post player, House said she also enjoys the physical nature of the game.

“It’s a contact sport,” House said. “Depending on the person you’re up against, it’s hard, because some of them are 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. There are a lot of elbows flying and people posting up.”

In addition to basketball, House is a member of the Honor Society and Key Club at ACCS. She said she doesn’t have time for much else.

“It’s hard to balance everything,” House said. “It takes a lot of energy drinks and coffee, but I manage, because I have to stay on track. I can’t get behind.”

House said she would take the ACT in the near future. She’s looking at Ole Miss, Mississippi State or Louisiana-Monroe as potential college destinations, and she’s considering nursing, zoology and psychology as potential majors.

House is also the daughter of Brian House.