Telegraph photo by HECTOR LONGO Nashua North's Tori Conrad is focused on having a big year with the Titans basketball team while chasing a state championship in the shot put for the track team as well.

NASHUA – The numbers are modest for Nashua North girls basketball, just 2-4 headed into a showdown tonight against rugged, 6-1, Manchester Memorial.

Junior Tori Conrad is still beaming about this team, her season, first-year coach Curt Dutilley and the way things are progressing.

“I feel like we have great potential, and hopefully that will mean more wins,” said Conrad, one of the key foundation pieces as Dutilley attempts to start from the ground up.

Conrad is already accomplished in track and field where she is the reigning Division I state shot put champion and school record holder outdoors. She decided to pull double duty this winter and add indoor track to an already packed schedule. Most recently, she headed up to Hanover and grabbed second in the shot put a the prestigious Dartmouth Relays.

At 6-feet-23/4 Conrad is a potentially lethal piece to build around on the hardwood, and the rebound machine is off to a rousing beginning to her varsity hoop career.

The rare four-sport athlete found a way to block out some time and talk about her hectic schedule, North sports and being able to manage all the responsibility, while still having some fun.

OK, Tori (short for Victoria), we haven’t seen much of you on the hoop court until this season. Where have you been?

“I played JV last year. It was a little upsetting, I thought I would make varsity because of my height. I thought I could be a great impact for our team, but it is what it is. Now I’m on varsity and I’m loving it.”

It’s a whole new world on varsity, right?

“Completely different. They called out my name (in the starting lineups). And you have to greet the refs. I had no idea. It was totally new to me. On the court, you definitely have to work harder.”

So how did you get ready this time around?

“I train myself on my basket at home. I worked in the preseason, and I’m just working on everything I can.”

New coach, it had to be a little scary, no?

“Not at all. He definitely knows what he’s doing. He helps us one on one with the individual stuff we need to work on, and he makes sure the whole team is together. It’s been great.”

So you played goalie for the Titans varsity soccer team in the fall. What made you choose to compete in two sports this winter, throwing the shot for the indoor track team and playing hoop, too?

“This summer I lost a lot of muscle, because I wasn’t working out. I was too busy enjoying my summer. I wanted to work indoors to build up that muscle so I’m even more ready for outdoors. This winter, my best is 39-8, it’s close to the school record, not enough to break it yet. I definitely like basketball more, but I can’t say that to my track coach (North throwing coach Rocky Lefort). I tell him he has to support what I love. And I love basketball.”

Sounds like you are pretty busy, how do you manage?

“Track is right after school. Basketball is a little later, we have an early schedule and a late schedule. Whenever it’s the late schedule, I work on track until 4:30 or 5, and then basketball 6-8. When it’s early, I go to track from 2-3:30 and then basketball 4-6. Also, I’m in driver’s ed right now, trying my hardest to get that done, along with the two sports and taking classes.”

Does it leave you any time for school work? How do you do in the classroom?

“I’m really proud of my grades this year (All As and one B), because junior year is pretty hard. Even though I have all these people behind me, I have to be the one to push myself.”

So what is the best part of your hoop game?

“My height, grabbing rebounds, and I love my foul shots. I’ve been working on them since freshman year, and I’ve got them down, I love them to bits.”

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