Published: April 09, 2008 10:51 am            

West Carroll's Anderson named boys Player of Year

CLINTON — Chris Anderson has set the bar high at West Carroll.

The senior cager helped the boys basketball team compile a 73-20 record over the three years since the communities of Mount Carroll, Savanna and Thomson consolidated to form the West Carroll School District.

Anderson has been named the Herald’s boys basketball player of the year after leading the Thunder to a 23-7 record and a nice post season-run that ended at the hands of Peoria Manual in a super-sectional match-up, a 76-48 loss that still stings.

“It hurts to go out like that in your last game.” Anderson admitted. “On one hand you’re proud of the season and on the other you wish you could have done better.”

Anderson led West Carroll to a second straight Elite Eight appearance in 2007-08 after also doing it as a junior.

Anderson was not surprised about the teams success despite losing five of the top seven players off of the 2006-07 team.

“I knew the team would be good and I knew I would have my opportunities too. I was confident that if I worked on my game, I could be a great contributor.” Anderson said. “We lost three starters and the first two guys off the bench, but everybody knew it was their time to play. Guys like Drew Gallentine and Nick Lucas got a lot more time and had great years. We expected to be just as good as last year.”

West Carroll head coach Josh Knuth agrees with his star pupil.

“I think a lot of credit should be given to the kids. When it’s their turn to step up they do.” Knuth said.

Knuth feels that Anderson, especially, took his play to a new level as a senior.

“I thought this year he improved his leadership role in practice and in games and just his overall play.” Knuth said. “Defensively he improved and really just his all-around play improved.”

On the season Anderson averaged 17.9 points per game as a senior after averaging 13.9 as a junior. But it wasn’t just points that Anderson contributed.

“This year Chris’s stats went up in every single category. Not just points and rebounds, but assists and steals, every category.”

Anderson takes pride in the versatility of his game, shown by his 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals per contest.

“I like to be multi-dimensional, that’s one of the things I really work on. I used to be just a post player.” Anderson said. “I kept the ability to score in the post, but then I moved out to play more of a wing position.”

The key to Anderson’s and the Thunder’s success, according to Knuth, is the offseason work the team does.

“They’re doing a nice job of stepping up in the offseason to get better, I think our offseason has gone a long way to building our program.” said Knuth. “And the kids just love the game. They want to play and they want to win.”

Anderson also points to offseason work as a major factor in his stellar play.

“Between my sophomore and junior year I developed a 3-point shot, and then over this past year I thought my ball handling improved a lot.” said the Mount Carroll native. “I like to be able to help in multiple ways, more than just scoring.”

With his high school playing days behind him, Anderson is looking to the future. A future that will include college and basketball.

“I have a few DII (Division II) offers right now and I’m still visiting those schools.” Anderson shared. “The offers I have are Minnesota State, Wisconsin-Parkside and Hillsdale”

Knuth knows it will be tough to replace a player like Anderson.

“If you get to coach a kid like Chris once in your career, you’re lucky.” said the Thunder head man. “It’s going to be tough to replace a player like him.”

“He’s got something to be very proud of. Every time he walks in the gym, he’s going to be able to see the nine banners that he helped put up. He can be proud of that for the rest of his life.”

        

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