Strong year for Jace Anderson

In his second season at Montana State University in Billings as a basketball player, former Saco-Whitewater standout Jace Anderson has stood out as a Yellowjacket.

Anderson received honorable mention as an All-GNAC selection after he averaged 7.8 points per game. He boasted a field goal percentage of 44.8 and 41.2 from three point range. He also knocked down 74.2 percent of his free throws.

Though impressive numbers took shape right after Anderson’s Christmas break during the 2014-15 season, when he was called up to start as the team's shooting guard.

“I didn’t play very much at all before Christmas break,” Anderson told the PCN after the season was over. “Then I started all but one or two games after Christmas.”

Anderson was happy to finally get his shot after redshirting his freshman year and playing off the bench in 2013-14.

“I guess I was a little nervous, but I was more excited and happy I was getting my shot,” Anderson said.

Being a native of Whitewater, Anderson was destined to end up with a basketball in his hands and at a very young age.

“Basketball has always been pretty big in Whitewater,” Anderson said. “I grew up watching my sister, cousins and my brother play.”

Anderson started playing team ball in second grade and then played with older kids when he was in third and fourth grade.

Anderson helped lead his team to the State C tournament in his senior year as a Panther under head coach Shawn Moore, which was Anderson’s fondest memory of high school ball.

“We had to do it the hard way because we lost the first game at divisionals,” Anderson said. “Then we came around the back door and got third and won the challenge game.”