She goes by "Shaq" for obvious reasons.

Much like a certain retired NBA center great who logged championship seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, Ayanna Edwards of the Sacramento Dragons is a presence in the post with a personality to match her ever-expanding game.

Edwards, a 6-foot-4 sophomore post, scored six consecutive points in the middle of the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth game, and the top-ranked Dragons used a 7-0 run to ice No. 2 Pleasant Grove 52-42 on Tuesday night in a nonleague showdown of area powers in Elk Grove.

A year ago, tossing the ball inside to Edwards often meant that ball slipping through her hands – she was that much of a work-in-progress project. However, she has improved by the day and is eager to learn.

Edwards scored 12 points and had 14 rebounds Tuesday night. Jasmine Ware, Sacramento's do-all marvel, had 19 points, including a jumper with 2:36 to go for a 45-39 lead, and her two free throws with 11 seconds left accounted for the final score. Jehiah Cook had seven points, and Briana Womack and Casey Williams had five each for the Dragons (4-0). Williams' three-point shot with 1:08 left put Sacramento up 50-42.

The Dragons aim to make a state-title run, and those hopes are all the more enhanced with an effective inside game. Edwards works out daily with Dragons assistant Lloyd Hillman, the former floor-leader great for Johnson High 20 seasons ago.

Still, Sacramento coach Michele Massari called time-out Tuesday to specifically challenge Edwards to step up her game, telling her point-blank, "Don't play scared! We need you!' "

Message received. Edwards then scored those three straight buckets.

"Shaq's improved so much," Massari said. "She has great work ethic. She's motivated and can be as good as anyone in the country."

Ware is already in that sort of conversation when it comes to wing players. The 5-foot-10 guard headed to UC Santa Barbara on scholarship dazzled with a complete game. She and Edwards, all grins, bounded out of the gym.

Marissa Wimbley scored 16 for the Eagles (3-2) and Dejza James 10. Wimbley's three-point play with 2:13 left cut it to 45-42, but the Eagles did not score the rest of the way.

"We can play with anyone," Pleasant Grove coach James McKeever said. "We need to play a more complete game and make it all click."

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