Friends’ Central’s McCurdy makes school history and then leads team to big FSL win
Iyanna McCurdy has created plenty of memorable moments throughout her Friends’ Central basketball career.
On Friday night at Abington Friends, she added two more lifetime memories when she became the girl’s all-time leading scorer before hitting the game winning shot to lift her team to an important 45-43 Friends Schools League win over the Kangaroos.
“It feels amazing,” said McCurdy, referring to hitting the game-winning shot along with breaking the all-time scoring record for girls. “We would not have had the opportunity to win the game if it were not for Raanee Smith’s steal. I did not know about the scoring record but it feels great to achieve this milestone.”
Friends’ Central girls’ basketball head coach Phillip Annas added, “I never really pay attention to records. To me records only matter for the historical accuracy of the program. However, I am pleased any time a player has the opportunity to accomplish a new milestone during their career.”
After hitting a three-pointer early in the contest to eclipse the career record of 1,131 points by Aaliyah Powell (FCS Class of 2005), McCurdy proceeded to take over and keep her team in the game due mostly to the fact all of the attention Mikayla Vaughn was drawing in the paint.
It seemed like every time the Phoenix needed a big bucket, McCurdy was there. With the score knotted at 43 and time winding down Smith, the young freshman came up with the biggest steal of her young career to date. Following the steal, Annas quickly called time-out to set up the final play.
Although the designed play did not turn out the way it was drawn up in the huddle, freshman Nia Jordan got the ball at the top of the key and tried to feed McCurdy at the foul line. The pass was deflected but McCurdy was still able to grab the ball. Following a pump fake and one dribble, McCurdy drained the jumper just inside the foul line with 1.5 seconds remaining for what turned out to be the game-winner in an always important Friend’s Schools League contest.
This accomplishment is just the latest for McCurdy who signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her competitive career at SE Missouri State University in the fall where she will major in Sport Science.
“This whole year has been special,” McCurdy said. “Not many people have the opportunity to play college basketball and I feel it’s a blessing from God to have that opportunity to be successful.”
Annas said, “It has been an amazing journey watching Iyanna grow as a basketball player, but even more as an individual. Iyanna is a wonderful young person who has continued to develop her game and leadership skills while at Friends’ Central. To have the opportunity to play in college is a testimony to her work ethic and the time she devoted to improving her skills in the off-season. I am extremely proud that she has worn our Phoenix uniform with pride these previous four seasons.”
