The women’s basketball team at Richland rejoices this season.
One of their players, Paris Beard, has been recognized as the women’s basketball NJCAA Division III Player of the Week.
Beard averaged an 25.2 points per game on an 60% field goal percentage while also aver-aging 7.6 rebounds per game.
With her game high being 44 points against Southwestern Assemblies of God University JV.
Beard is said she is excited about being named an All-American.
She said, “It was like a really exciting moment knowing like as just a freshman getting to be All-American and getting first team over people in our district.”
She said coach Troy Thrasher had a huge impact on her success.
“He really just pushed me to keep going even like in the season that we had.”
“He encouraged me to not give up and just push through for that time so I could get All-American.”
She also gives a lot of credit to her team-mates contributing to her major success.
“They played a big part because, you know, you have to have five people on the floor, so like, they really just got me the ball when they needed when we needed to give me the ball and they just encouraged me to keep going too”.
Beard has some impressive goals she wants to accomplish next year such get All-American again and get an MVP.
Beard said her strongest skills are her driving skills and communication skills.
Her plans after Richland are to transfer to a university and finish her education while continuing to play basketball.