The Tonganoxie High sophomore found out last Wednesday that she was named to the first-team all-Kaw Valley League basketball team.

And after hearing of the news, she had to inform her family of the honor.

“When I first found out and I went home and told my dad, he gave me a big high five and we were jumping up and down together,” Heim said.

The sophomore was a force inside for Tonganoxie this season, registering 13 points and eight rebounds per game.

Heim was a major contributor on a team that lost all five starters to graduation the year before. That team went 7-14, while a new batch of Chieftains finished this season 10-11.

Although the Chieftains lost in the substate quarterfinals earlier this month, Heim and some teammates likely won’t wait until November to lace up their sneakers again.

The girls are planning to play in Mid-America Youth Basketball tournaments this summer, with THS boys coach David Walker as their coach. Walker said the number of tournaments the team played in would depend on how many invitationals the girls wanted to enter.

Walker is shooting for at least four tournaments in the area, possibly in Leavenworth, Lawrence, Olathe or Kansas City, Mo. The coach said an Emporia tournament also was a possibility.

When Heim isn’t playing basketball, she’s participating in her other favorite sport — volleyball.

Although the high school volleyball season runs from August to late October, Heim’s club season with Sport 2 Sport in Lawrence runs from November to April.

That involves practicing two times per week when her teams is not playing in a tournament.

Some of those weekly practices came while playing basketball, something Heim and THS coach Randy Kraft had to deal with.

“During basketball, Mr. Kraft did not care for that very much,” Heim said.

A volleyball tournament awaits Heim next weekend in Indianapolis. If her team later qualifies for nationals, Heim will be off to Florida next month.

And now that spring is rolling this way, Heim’s third sport, softball, will be in full swing soon. Volleyball will keep Heim out of a few practices, but after being a designated hitter on Mark Mall’s team, she’s looking to play in the outfield, or first base, where she’s already had some practice.

With ultimately playing year-round, it’s possible that the sports can wear a person down.

Heim, though, said she’s not experiencing any burnout.

“After you’re done playing one sport, you’re excited to play another sport,” Heim said. “The same thing happens over and over again.”

In between those sports, the Tonganoxie athlete found another reason to be thrilled last week.

“I was just so excited even to get this,” Heim said about her all-league selection. “It’s a really big privilege.”°