The photo was snapped during Madison Bugg’s sophomore season.

It was moments before the 2009 state final, and the Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) players had lined up for pre-match introductions.

While everyone else was smiling and waving to the crowd, Bugg’s hands had formed fists, her face had morphed into a scowl and her body language screamed defiance.

The year before, Bugg had broken into the starting lineup as a freshman, and Gibbons had lost in the state final — a result she was determined to avoid.

As it turns out, 2009 was the first of three straight state titles for Gibbons, and Bugg won MVP honors each time, making for a virtually perfect high school career.

But Bugg, who has been named a 2011 ESPNHS All-American, wasn’t satisfied.

“It would have been perfect,” Bugg said of her prep career, “if we had won (state) my freshman year. But we made too many mistakes, and it was beyond frustrating because we were good enough to win.”

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