It's a 24-7 program for us. We're always calling or e-mailing students to keep in touch. We continue to talk to them about college admissions, what classes to take, how to find financial aid, and similar issues.

One of the reasons SCOPE reaches students so early is to get to them before they have to take the SAT, and it is early enough that they can recover academically or still take the courses they would need to take to get accepted into college.

The topics they chose for their research projects are typically something they've found lacking in their own schools. They feel that there is now a responsibility on them to become potential agents for social change.

That's a difference maker. She averaged 24 against us this season. She only had 15, but she can erupt for 40.

This is important to us because our units are open 24 hours. Customers see this as an added convenience because they can get food, fuel and other c-store items anytime of the day, all at the same place.

Their defensive pressure got to us. We were able to cut the lead at half to 24-19, but then they had us down by nine with four minutes to go. I'm more proud of the character of the kids than I am for their basketball abilities.