Only one girls basketball player in all of Chenango County has even attempted as many free throws (50) as Unadilla Valley guard Jordan Anderson has made. And that person amassed her free throw attempts in two more games than the Storm’s junior point guard.
Anderson, despite her 5-foot-3 frame, continually shows courage and relentless determination in taking the ball hard to the basket against much larger opponents. So even on nights when she is not shooting the ball well, she still makes an impact on the scoreboard.
“She’s tough and she loves the contact,” said fifth-year UV head coach, Brandi Backus. “It doesn’t matter how big you are, she’ll challenge you.”
Anderson was having an off night from the field in last week’s UV Tournament championship game against Cazenovia. Cazenovia, Section III’s reigning Class B champion, lost some key players from last year’s championship team, but remains as a formidable opponent.
Despite a 1-for-6 shooting day from the field, Anderson was resolute with her dribble penetration heading to the foul line for 18 attempts – 14 of those finding the bottom of the net. Her lone field goal was a key three-pointer, and she tossed in three steals, three assists, and four rebounds. In addition to those gaudy numbers, Anderson also proved she was also a clutch player. With the championship on the line, Anderson was good as gold from the foul line. She made 4 out of 4 free throws in the last 10 seconds to wrap up UV’s first-ever home tournament victory.
Anderson is currently second among Chenango County scorers this season at 15 points per game, and the Storm’s fast start has it in position to post its first winning season in seven years.
Anderson’s personal success on the basketball court is now joined hand-in-hand with the team’s, and she is this week’s honoree as Smith Ford Supercenter/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
Anderson leads a Storm team that has the best record among local girls teams at 6-1, and the six wins have already eclipsed the season totals of the previous two seasons. She is one of three UV players scoring in double figures, the only local girls teams to have that many averaging 10 or more points per game. “She’s such a different player this year,” Backus said. “She has had to develop a new role this year. Her first two years, she had to create so much and didn’t have all of the players around her that she has now. She doesn’t have to bring it down all the time now, and she can concentrate on getting open without the ball. I think it makes her even harder to guard.”
But when the game is on the line, is there any doubt which UV player will have the ball in her hands? “She just doesn’t get rattled in pressure situations,” Backus said. “Caz pressured her big time, and she stepped up so much as a leader.”
Anderson, along with high-scoring teammates Amanda Off and Taylor Davis, are part of a resurgent Unadilla Valley program that promises to be a factor in the Midstate Athletic Conference the next few years. Anderson and her teammates took some lumps the previous two years, but now it is their time to dole out a few lumps of their own. “Jordan just wants it so bad,” Backus said. “Jordan and Amanda had to take those losses the last two years because they knew it would make them better. They’ve waited a long time for this, now it’s their time.”
And that time is now.

Follow Patrick Newell on Twitter @evesunpat