Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Chilton County High School varsity girl’s point guard Iasia Anderson has been playing varsity basketball since her seventh-grade year. Since then, Anderson has tallied 850 rebounds, 650 steals, and now 1,500 career points — and counting.

“It means a lot,” Anderson said. “We have a good record, and we needed it. It means a lot to us.”

Anderson recorded her 1,500th point in the Tigers Jan. 31 win over Elmore County High School 62-14. The win gave CCHS its 22nd win of the 2022-2023 season.

Anderson said she has focused on her attitude this year, and attributes that to the stellar CCHS is having.

“I really depend on my teammates, and getting everything right I need to. There are five seniors, and this year, we have to make it happen,” Anderson said. “I practice hard, and hard work pays off. Physically and mentally, I keep my cool, because at the end of the day my teammate relies on me.”

CCHS assistant coach Walter Postell has been coaching at CCHS for six years, but he has been coaching Anderson before she got to the high school ranks.

“I have been coaching Iasia since (YMCA) basketball … Every year, it does not seem like there is much more she can do, but she seems to get better,” Postell said. “The sky is still the limit for her.”

Postell said having more players on the CCHS roster this season has been able to help her become a more all-around point guard. CCHS head coach Rickey Pulliam also commented on Anderson’s game expanding this season. Pullaim said Anderson now knows when to take over games and when to get others involved.

“Iasia is one of the most impressive and hard-working players, and she does not get the credit for how hard she works,” Pulliam said. “She hates to lose, and she wants to be the best at everything she does. It shows on the court.”

Basketball has become easier for Anderson each year playing on varsity. She is seeing the court better, reacting to double teams better and her overall basketball knowledge has increased significantly.

“I think she is one of the top players in the state of Alabama,” Pulliam said. “I think people started to take notice of her this year … I think she has taken on that attitude of ‘I want to be a winner.’ She is one of the best players I have ever coached.”

Anderson has two more seasons at CCHS to continue to climb the school and state record books. It will come down to what Anderson does on the side that determines how far she can go, according to Pulliam.

“To get Iasia to the next level, I tell her ‘It is what you do when the lights are off,’” Pulliam said. “Can you outwork the other girls in the state? We gave her a list of the best point guards in the state, and this is what you need to do to get where they are at. She is working every day, and I think the best Iasia is yet to come.”

The Tigers host the AHSAA Class 6A Area 5 varsity girl’s area tournament championship on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at Chilton County High School.