Seventh Grader McKenzie Pendergrass scored her first points as a middle school basketball player for Vance Charter School Tuesday night against Roxboro Community School. However, Pendergrass isn’t just any player and those weren’t just any points. Those points scored put Pendergrass and Vance Charter on ESPN. Pendergrass is in a wheel chair and Head Coach Brian Howard says he became aware of Pendergrass’ desire to be on the basketball team after she wrote a story in class. In her story, Pendergrass said she didn’t think her disabilities should stand in the way of her taking the court. “She wanted to prove she could do just as well as anyone else,” Howard said. She did play in her 6th grade year but did not score. That changed Tuesday night.
Pendergrass got the bucket late in the game. Howard said “The gym was electric.” “When the ball went in the gym erupted,” added Howard. Howard went on to say that Pendergrass is well liked at the school, “She is outgoing, determined and doesn’t take no for an answer.” Her determination paid off with her first points of her middle school career and making it to ESPN.