Copper Basin Lady Cougar Alexis Hyatt has made history. She is now the all-time leading scorer among boys and girls basketball teams in the modern era. She scored her 1,446 point at Nantahala High School January 19 on a fast break with two seconds to go in the first half of that game. She broke the record previously held by Tanner Wilcox.
Hyatt was honored with a ceremonial passing of the basketball from Wilcox at Copper Basin’s home game with Polk County January 22.
“It’s honestly an honor. I’m really grateful for my teammates and my coaches. I wouldn’t be here without them. Breaking the record is special to me. But, it’s really the team and the people I’ve got to share it with. How they have contributed to it with me as well. I really thank my teammates and my coaches and my family because they have been there throughout it all and helped keep my confidence up, and just keep me going,” said Hyatt. She added, “It’s an awesome experience. I’m truly just grateful of getting it and I love it. It is such a good accomplishment and such a relief to know that I did it. And, everybody was there. It was just so awesome.”
Copper Basin Head Coach Jeff Grimes said there have been a lot of great players to come through Copper Basin and for her to put herself among them is a token of the kind of player she is. “She’s just an outstanding kid to root for,” he said.
He said the key to her success is her drive and her will as a player. “She’s a scorer. She’s consistent,” Grimes said.
Her numbers have been consistent. She averaged 13.4 points per game her freshman year, 13 per game her sophomore year, 17.7 per game her junior year and 17.8 per game her senior year. She was voted all-district three times and district player of the year two times.
Hyatt said she knew she was 18 points away from the record, but in the game, she didn’t know how close. “I didn’t know till they blew the horn. It hit me. All the work we had put in together as a team with my teammates and all the practices and all the hard practices over and over. We got there and I got there,” Hyatt said.
She said after her 1000 point last season, it was her goal to do it this year. “I knew it would take a lot of work and motivation and confidence to push everyday to get more confidence and more better.”
Hyatt will play at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tennessee. “I’m excited to take it to another level. And, see what college ball is different like than high school. And, I’m excited about it all around,” she said.