Records 2,000th point as sophomore

By Brad Greer

Since  starting for the varsity team in the 7th grade, North Delta sophomore Ally Alford has been terrorizing opposing basketball teams and giving her coaches nightmares with her seemingly effortless athletic ability along with a happy-go-lucky attitude on the court.

In a home game against Kirk Academy last week, she scored the 2,000th point of her high school career. She’s averaging 23 points per game and more accolades are sure to come for the daughter of Chad and Mandy Alford of Batesville.

“I really had no idea i was that close to 2,000 points. After I hit a three (pointer) they stopped the game and announced it over the PA. I was kind of surprised. It’s pretty cool, but if it wasn’t for my teammates it wouldn’t mean a thing,” said Alford who truly plays the game for fun. She jokes with referees, laughs when knocked to the floor, and generally frustrates other teams with her tenacious style of play.

When she was presented the plaque after the Kirk game the first thing she noticed was the date already engraved. “How did they know I was going to get enough to pass 2,000 points tonight?” she asked.

“I wish I would have known they were going to do this and I might just have scored three points and see what would have happened,” she said, grinning mischievously.

Nothing Alford does on the court surprises anyone who watches the Lady Wave often, especially North Delta girls head coach Harrison Nickle

“You often hear seniors that pass the 2,000 point but for a sophomore to do it, that’s pretty special. She’s earned it and you know it takes teammates to get the ball to her and to set screens, but she’s always has a team first attitude,” Nickel said.

“There are still some things she needs to work on and she’ll be the first one to tell you that, but when she figures things out and becomes a complete player, the sky is the limit,” he said.

Allord’s post-season awards are many, including being part of North Delta’s three  junior high district championship teams, being named MAIS All-State last year as a freshmen, earning All-District and All North State AAA rankings for the past three years and making the State AAA All-Tournament team last year.

Basketball is not all Alford, who turned 16 earlier this month, has on the agenda as she also qualified for state in the 110 hurdles. She also plays on the Green Wave tennis team in the spring.

For now, Alford says her main focus is helping her team win district and returning to the State AAA tournament then on to the MAIS Overall Tournament in late February at Mississippi College. The Lady Wave made its first ever appearance at that tournament last season.