By Staff
PC's Morgan reaches 1,000 career points
Kim West
Franklin County Times
PHIL CAMPBELL – Phil Campbell leading scorer Chasity Morgan's favorite basketball play isn't swishing a 3-pointer or driving to the basket.
"I would rather make a steal than score a layup," Morgan said. "I just like defense better because it's more intense."
Despite her preference for defense, Morgan poured in 29 points against Mars Hill last Friday and surpassed 1,000 points for her varsity career. She currently has 1,043 and is expected to finish with 1,250 by the end of the season.
"I had no clue about the record – I was in the locker room and mad that we lost because we should have won, and one of my teammates came and got me," said Morgan, who was presented a game ball in a ceremony following the game. "I'd rather have a winning season than score 1,000 points."
The senior point guard has shouldered the scoring load this season with 20 points per game after the Lady Bobcats lost sophomore guard Caitlin Stancil for the season in the team's opening game against county rival Belgreen.
"It was just bad luck," Morgan said. "I was running an out-of-bounds play for Caitlin, who was setting a screen and then she got open for a lob pass. She just came down wrong and tore her knee."
Phil Campbell has struggled without Stancil, the team's second-leading scorer, but Morgan said the team still has high goals for this season.
"We always want to win the county and area tournaments, and get back to Hanceville this year for the playoffs," said Morgan, who is also averaging 5.0 steals and 3.5 assists per game this season. "We made it there in my sophomore year, and it was just a great experience with a different kind of atmosphere."
Morgan, who also plays softball and runs track for Phil Campbell, plans to continue her basketball career at the next level, and she has been heavily recruited by Northwest-Shoals, Bevill-Fayette and Birmingham Southern.
"My No. 1 choice would be (North Alabama) and then Northwest-Shoals," said Morgan, whose former teammate Tanna Benford now plays for the Lady Patriots. "My parents would rather me play softball in college, but I've played basketball since I was five years old and I've always like it better. Basketball is more intense and there's always something to do. I might not score every night but I can always play defense and run the offense."
Third-year Phil Campbell coach Amy Moss has coached Morgan since tenth grade, when she became a full-time starter, and believes she will succeed in college.
"Chasity has a lot of speed that most high school players don't have, and she has the ability to see the floor well and make the wide-open or no-look pass," Moss said. "She can score as a shooter or off the dribble, and she has scored 20 points per game for us despite being double-teamed or tripled-teamed this season.
"I think she's the best point guard in the county and one of the best in the area, and she has the speed and ability to play in college."