Merced High basketball star reaches a major milestone. And she’s just a junior
Tuesday was a historic night for Merced High School basketball star Averie Steverson.
Midway through the first quarter against East Union of Manteca, the junior surpassed 1,000 career points. Officials paused the game and Steverson was able to celebrate the achievement.
Steverson became first Merced player to top 1,000 points since Lexi Thompson in 2015, according to Shawn Jansen of the Merced Union High School District.
“When I scored that basket, all the anxiety, all the nerves left, and then it was just playing basketball from there,” Steverson told Jansen.
Steverson led the Bears with 12 points in a 53-50 loss to East Union.
“It’s a really big milestone,” Steverson told Jansen. “It’s not just a ‘me thing.’ My teammates have helped me out a lot through this journey, they’ve pushed me, and they’ve led with so many assists. I’m grateful for them.”
Merced head coach Willie Steverson is Averie’s father.
“It felt really good,” Wilile Steverson told Jansen. “I’m so proud of her. She comes out and competes like no other. Years prior, she had to be that person who scores the basket for us. This year, maybe not so much. I’m just happy that she’s out there competing and doing what she loves to do.”
Merced is 8-3 and plays Sierra of Manteca at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Livingston Leaders Of The Pack Tournament.
The Bears open Central California Conference play on Jan. 13 at home against El Capitan.
