Ephrata High School senior point guard Payton Hagy signed last Thursday to continue her basketball career with North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Hagy discussed the move over the weekend and said she’s thankful for the chance to continue playing the game she loves.

“I’m so excited to go compete at the next level and play against some higher competition, and I’m so excited to get better and develop my skills and continue playing,” Hagy said.

Hagy has had the opportunity to play under her dad, Tigers coach Dale Hagy, and said she credits a ton of her success to her father’s guidance. She said she wouldn’t be anywhere near the player she is today without her dad pushing her and motivating her to be better.

Hagy added it was really helpful to be able to go home after practice or games and break down film.

“It’s so nice, being the coach’s kid, we can go home and watch film and go through everything step by step,” Hagy said. “Being the point guard, it helps me so much seeing the floor better.”

At North Idaho College, Hagy said she’ll be playing for a coach who has experience as a shorter guard.

“We’re around the same height, so her being a smaller guard and her having so much experience playing was a really big selling point because we can see eye to eye on that stuff,” Hagy said. “I absolutely loved Idaho. I love Coeur d’Alene, it’s so pretty there.”

With her senior year still ahead of her, Hagy said, she’s hoping to approach this spring with the same intensity she’s come in with since she was a freshman. She said she has a ton of development and improvement she still wants to make on the court before she goes to Idaho.

Next season, she said, her goal is to be the top freshman guard in the Northwest Athletic Conference and help her team toward the NWAAC Championship. Off the court, Hagy said it probably doesn’t come as much surprise that she wants to follow her mom and dad into the education field.

After North Idaho College, Hagy said she’d love to continue playing if she has the opportunity.

Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.