By Jeff Budlong, Tribune Sports Editor

NEW RICHLAND &045; It is a combination that is not seen very often.

Of course, Alison Anderson is not the kind of player that comes around often either.

The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva senior concluded one of the best basketball careers at the school as the all-time leading scorer for either boys or girls with 1,548 points.

However, the prolific scorer proved what a complete player she is by setting the school mark in assists as well with 678.

&8220;It just shows that she is willing to do whatever she has to for the team to win,&8221; said NRHEG head coach Mindy Sparby. &8220;She is the most competitive kid I have ever coached.&8221;

Anderson ended her career as a four-year starter and all-conference player, she is a three-year captain and now she has won the Tribune’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award for the third consecutive season.

Anderson never had a problem filling up a stat sheet closing out her senior season averaging 14 points a game, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.

The Panthers finished the 2005-06 season with a 22-6 record overall and a perfect 11-0 mark in the Gopher Conference.

Anderson helped lead the team to the section finals for three consecutive seasons including a state berth in 2004.

While Anderson has garnered a lot of individual attention over the years she says that this year was special because of her teammates.

“This team was just so much fun to work with,&8221; she said.

“It is exciting to have the scoring and assist record but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.&8221;

Anderson combined with teammate Traci Nelson to form a dominant 1-2 combination, but the two players had to do it while embracing different roles this season.

Anderson faced more double and triple teams as opponents tried to get the ball out of the point guard’s hands while Nelson was forced to play more in the post.

&8220;Getting the extra attention was definitely frustrating at times but it was also complimenting that other teams would put two or three girls on me,&8221; Anderson said.

&8220;It just meant that I had to get my teammates involved more.&8221;

Anderson made it a point to get her teammates the ball early and often, and that was never more true than with Nelson.

&8220;If I had to choose I would say that I would rather get the assist than score the bucket myself,&8221; she said.

&8220;It is fun to see your teammates get the job done.&8221;

The two players seem to know what the other was thinking without ever verbalizing it on the court.

&8220;I have never played with anyone who know exactly what I am thinking on the court like she does.

It was an awesome pleasure to play with her,&8221; Anderson said.

“We have been playing together since the third or fourth grade and her work ethic just makes you want to work harder.”

Anderson’s work ethic is one of the main reason’s she will be heading off to play Division I college basketball next year as South Dakota St.

Anderson who is a gym rat constantly working on her game, and years or high school and AAU ball made colleges take notice of a special talent.

“I am really excited to work with the team,” she said.

“I play to go up there in the summer and workout with them in June and July.

I am really exited to go to the next level.”

It is a chance to set some new goals after reaching nearly every one she set during her high school playing days.

“They brought a lot of success to this program over the years and now you have younger girls looking up to kids like Alison and Traci who want to do what they did,” said Sparby who saw the Panthers compile an 85-28 record over the past four seasons.

While future generations of Panthers prepare to leave their own mark on the NRHEG basketball program they need to work on the fundamentals because whether it is passing or shooting the ball they are now all chasing Anderson.