Eighth-Grader Megan Anderson Shines With Mepham Basketball

The Mepham girls basketball team have outscored, out-defended and out-hustled opponents all year to a nearly unblemished regular season record in Conference AA-III.

The Lady Pirates concluded their schedule in first place with a 12-2 conference record and a first-round win in the playoffs, all the while head coach Jim Mulvey has only run about seven or eight players deep into his roster.

One of the incremental components to the Lady Pirates success happens to have no even experienced a single day of high school yet. Eighth-grader Megan Anderson has played a critical role for the Pirates, who have hopes for a Nassau County championship and potentially beyond.

“We have some special talents on this team and I am glad to be able to be part of it,” Anderson said. “It has been a great experience working with the older girls and I've learned a lot from coach Mulvey since the start.”

Mulvey has coached the girls basketball team at Mepham for the past seven seasons. The Lady Pirates have just three seniors on the team, only one of which is a starter. The leading scorer is junior and the leading rebounder is a sophomore, so calling on an even younger player at the beginning of the season was an easy choice for Mulvey.

“Megan has been great and has been able to blend right in with a great group of girls, who accept kids in,” Mulvey said.

Anderson scored a career-high 17 points during a road game at Long Beach to aid Mepham to a 64-38 win on Jan. 11. Since then, her role has only expanded on the team, and Mulvey has noticed the difference on the court.

“As far as her being just 14 years old and playing on a good team like this, she had to be forced into the starting lineup at times with injuries and she's responded well,” Mulvey added.

Kristen O’Brien is one of the top scorers in Nassau County and had experienced a similar situation to Anderson's, playing as an eighth grader just a few years ago as well.

“I could easily relate, starting here in eighth grade also," she said. "She has definitely stepped up for our team this season. It has come down to a maturity level and she is definitely all there."

Being so young and playing with all older girls who even attend a different school could be a little nerve wrecking, a feeling that was no different for Anderson prior to the season.

“I was very quiet with the team in the beginning, but it did not take long at all. These girls are so welcoming to me,” she said.

Jillian Picinich, the team's only starting senior, took Anderson under her guidance right from the start.

“Megan comes to practice everyday and always tries her best and is just a great improvement for the team,” Picinich said. “We motivate her to be louder with the team since she was a little quiet to start.”

In a team that shoots often and scores at a blistering pace, Mepham is not the team to be on for the modest type.

“My coach told me to have more confidence in my shot and stop thinking so much about it,” Anderson said. The eighth grader has scored in every game but one this season, including two games with at least 10 points.

“We expect everybody to be a leader on this team even if they're not a captain,” Mulvey said. “That is what makes a good team.”

As far as the future for Anderson goes with the Lady Pirates, the experiences this season will only help her grow to be a prominent leader in the future.

“Hopefully I’ll be a great as these girls have been to me when I get older in order to help younger players," Anderson said.