Standing 6 feet tall, 14-year-old Sedona Red Rock High School girls basketball player McKenna Woodford is adjusting to life at the varsity level.

Even in a small town like Sedona, it’s not often a freshman makes the varsity basketball squad, and this season, Woodford stands tall above the rest.

Woodford starts for the junior varsity program, but she gets plenty of minutes at the varsity level too, showing the older, more experienced girls that she can play.

“McKenna [Woodford] is a promising freshman player who seems to be thriving because of the challenges offered by her older teammates. Despite her youth, she is well-liked on and off the court and has adapted to our basketball program,” second-year Sedona Head Coach Tina Hawes said.

Recently, Wood-ford scored 20 points and had 15 rebounds in a junior varsity game against Prescott High School on Jan. 5, and if she keeps those numbers up, Woodford may push for a starting spot on varsity.

For now though, Woodford is happy where she is, and she is pleased with her position on the Scorpions basketball team.

“I like it. It’s nice to know there are people out there that think I can play at a higher level,” Woodford said.

This isn’t the first taste of varsity experience for Woodford, who made the varsity volleyball team under longtime Sedona Head Coach John Parks.

The Scorpion volleyball squad made it to the state semifinals at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley back in November. Woodford wasn’t a starter, but she received major playing time as the season went on.

Woodford said her favorite sport is volleyball, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t concentrate on basketball during the winter.

“I like the strategy of basketball and trying new things. I like my shot too, so I work on everything I can to be better,” Woodford said.

She added there’s a big difference between playing middle school sports, and playing high school sports, stating it’s a big jump to make and the game is so much faster.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, the Woodfords have an impressive athletic background. Woodford’s father, Brad Woodford, was a high school baseball star, while her mother, Barbara Woodford, played NCAA Division I basketball for the University of Minnesota.

The Woodford family moved to Sedona when McKenna Woodford was little. She eventually attended Big Park Community School where she helped the Coyotes earn a Verde Valley Athletic Association small schools championship in volleyball and basketball her eighth-grade year in 2010-2011.

When asked what it’s like to be a varsity player at 14 and a freshman, Woodford wasn’t shy to answer.

“It is a lot of pressure. People expect a lot of me because I’m 6 feet tall. But it’s awesome, I love being tall. I can see over everything,” Woodford said.

Woodford plans to continue playing volleyball and basketball throughout high school, and she hopes to maybe one day play at the next level.

“I have no plans yet, but hopefully one day I’ll get there,” Woodford said.