Anna Getz Cheney Year: Sophomore Sport: Basketball Position: Guard

“Dear WIAA,” the (admittedly paraphrased) letter began, “For the purpose of documenting a potential national record, can you verify the length of Anna Getz’s field goal against Chief Sealth on March 9, 1995?”

“They wrote back and said they don’t keep distances on shots,” said Cheney coach Marty Jessett.

Getz’s court-length basket, which swished through at the halftime buzzer of the State AA quarterfinal, was estimated at 83 feet. Last year’s State AA program said the national record is 79-2, by Steve Patterson of McMinn County, Tenn., although longer shots have been reported

Getz would likely forget about the record if her ninth-ranked Blackhawks (12-2) could return to the state tourney. Cheney, 25-2 last year, was 25-0 with Getz in the lineup. She injured her knee against Chief Sealth and missed the semifinals and the consolation game.

“That was really tough,” Getz said, “to put all the hard work into it, and then not be able to play.”

Getz scored 34 points over the weekend as the Blackhawks held off two of the major Frontier League foes, Riverside and East Valley.

“She has really refined her game,” Jessett said. “She doesn’t feel like she has to pass the ball all the time.”

“I have to score this year, rebound and play defense,” Getz said. “Last year, I didn’t have to work as hard on defense.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo