By Chris Cox
Mannford senior Isabella Perhson, or Bella as her friends call her, has been playing basketball since kindergarten. Like most kids, her parents signed her up for multiple sports, but it was basketball that she fell in love with.
“I like the competitive part of it,” she says. “It’s a team sport but you can also show your skills off. I just like to compete.”
That idea of competing is something that was imprinted on her as a freshman in high school when she was coached by the late Tyson Tackett.
“Coach Tackett died of cancer and his big thing was ‘compete,’” Bella says. “I think, him driving into my brain that you have to compete in everything pushes me to always go out and compete and do my best.”
The sharp shooting guard hit a big milestone last season for the Lady Pirates and is looking to hit another career milestone this season.
“Last year, I hit the 1,000-point mark,” she saiys. “This year I am hoping to get to 1,500 total points. I also want to make All-Conference again and make All-State this year.”
While those individual goals are important to Pehrson, they pale in comparison to the goals she has for her team.
“Last year we won our conference, along with Kiefer, but we didn’t make it out of regionals,” she says. “This year, we want to win our conference again and make it to state.”
With this being her last year, Pehrson is trying to impart her competitive nature on her teammates while keeping the team close and in good spirits.
“I try to keep a positive environment and lift people up,” she says. “I try to get the best out everyone and keep us together as a team. That’s how we will be successful.”
That positive attitude is something Bella tries to carry with her off the court as well.
“Character is more than just your skills in basketball,” Bella says. “If you have good character more people are going to want to be around you.”
Beyond basketball, Bella is a sprinter and hurdler for the Mannford track team and is a member of NHS. Following graduation, Bella says she will be playing basketball at the next level.
“I am going to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University to further my basketball career.”
