By Robert Wilson
Having a big game against defending Overall Tournament champion Parklane Academy, which was facing elimination and trying to repeat as Overall champions is hard enough, but to do it without hardly practicing for a week would be remarkable.
But that’s what Madison-Ridgeland Academy’s Anna Morgan Anderson did.
The 5-foot-9 junior guard had a game-high 19 points (7 of 15 shots from the field, 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and 2 of 3 from the free throw line) with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 26 minutes and led MRA to a 53-33 victory over Parklane in the Overall quarterfinals at Mississippi College in Clinton after coming back from a week long recovery from a concussion.
For her outstanding performance, Anderson has been named the Legacy Theaters Flowood/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.
Anderson suffered a concussion in the second half of MRA’s win over Jackson Academy Feb. 13 in the MAIS Class 4A, Division II championship game.
She didn’t practice or do much activity until Friday morning before the Parklane that afternoon.
But she turned it on against Parklane to keep MRA’s season alive and also beat Parklane for the third time this season in a rematch of last year’s Overall championship game where MRA lost an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and Parklane won 45-42.
Anderson was a part of MRA’s defense, which limited Parklane to its second lowest point total of the year and 23.1 percent shooting from the field in last week’s win.
“Anna Morgan had not done anything for a week except for a little shooting and light jogging that morning,” MRA coach Stephen Force said. “She missed two or three practices. That just shows you what kind of competitor she is. Anna Morgan has a motor that never slows down whether it’s in a game or in practice. She goes full speed.
“I think what gives her the edge over most other players is that not only is she a really good offensive player, but she’s also a fantastic defensive player Her length and speed allow her to score points and play terrific defense.”
Anderson – a member of the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Metro Jackson Elite 11 Team for the second straight year – averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals despite dealing with various injuries and led MRA to a 36-5 record and Overall championship and a No. 5 ranking in Mississippi and No. 1 in MAIS by MaxPreps. MRA defeated Simpson Academy 37-25 for the Overall championship Tuesday night at MC.
Anderson averaged 13.6 points, 3 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 2.3 assists and shot 77 percent from the free throw line and led MRA to a 29-8 record and an Overall Tournament runner-up finish last season as a sophomore.
She was a member of the Tatum and Wade/MSB Metro Jackson first team.
Anderson scored a career-high 36 points without playing the fourth quarter – tying for the third best in school history – against Memphis East in the Dragon Fire Classic in Collierville, Tenn., last season.
Anderson averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2 assists and helped MRA to a 36-4 record, and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish and an Overall Tournament runner-up finish and was a second team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team two years ago as a freshman.
As an eighth grader, Anderson started and helped MRA win the state and Overall championships, the first eighth-grader to start for MRA coach Stephen Force in his 30-year head coaching career.
She has 1,699 career points. The school record is held by Rivers Futral, who scored 2,200 points and graduated in 2020.
Anderson has offers from Delta State and Mississippi College.
Anderson is the daughter of Kaylan and Jo Anderson. Kaylan graduated from Parkway High in Boosier City, La., and played basketball there. Jo graduated from Canton Academy and played basketball and ran track. Kaylan graduated from LSU. Jo graduated from Mississippi State.
Anderson has two older siblings, Hayden and Will, both graduates of Canton Academy. Hayden was a cheerleader, played basketball and softball and ran cross country and track. She was a MAIS All-Star in softball and was named the MVP of the 2015 All-Star Game. Hayden graduated from MSU. Will played football, basketball at baseball at Canton Academy. He was a member of Canton Academy’s 2016 state championship football team. He was a MAIS All-Star in football and played basketball in the Overall Tournament his senior year. Will played football at Southwest Mississippi Community College. He is a senior at Ole Miss.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a girls basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by sending a text to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
WEEK ONE: Liz Stevens, East Rankin Academy
WEEK TWO: Ella Jackson, Hartfield Academy
WEEK THREE: Ayla Benson, Madison Central
WEEK FOUR: Shamira Morton, Canton
WEEK FIVE: Laylah Johnson, Pisgah
WEEK SIX: Alayah Bolden, Madison Central
WEEK SEVEN: Shamira Morton, Canton
WEEK EIGHT: Karley Robinson, Madison Central
WEEK NINE: Liz Stevens, East Rankin Academy
WEEK TEN: Malia McCelleis, Northwest Rankin
