TURNER — There was a day at the gym when Courtney Anderson needed a spare shirt. Her sister Kristen had one for her to borrow.

But when Kristen made the offer, her sister, a guard at the University of Maine, had to politely decline.

“All I had was my UNH one,” said Kristen. “I pulled that out and she was like, ‘No, I don’t need one.'”

The rivalry between the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire has hit the Anderson household in full. Kristen made it official Thursday by signing her letter of intent to be a Wildcat.

“It’s a huge weight off my back,” Kristen said. “It’s exciting. I already know my teammates. I already know what’s going on next year. I can just focus on what’s going on this year and not have to worry about the future.”

And the Anderson sisters have already begun talking trash, anxiously awaiting the time when the two of them get to play against each other.

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“I showed up at her first game wearing UNH stuff,” Kristen said. “Her teammates took one look at me and gave me a dirty look. I just started laughing, and they told me to leave.”

Anderson chose UNH because she liked its close proximity to home. She liked the coaching staff and future teammates, some of whom she’s played with with the New England Crusaders. Though she had other offers and considered playing at Maine with her sister, she felt UNH was the best fit.

She verbally committed to UNH in April, but it became official Thursday. With her mother/coach Tammy, father Mark and brother Austin in attendance, along with friends and teammates, Anderson got to do what so many aspiring athletes dream of. Her sister didn’t even have this opportunity. She was a walk on at Maine.

“As a parent, it comes down to trying to teach kids valuable lessons about working hard, sticking to your dreams and trying to achieve something,” Tammy said. “It’s not always a rosy road. Today’s a rosy day when you’re signing and committing, but there’s always the arguments in the gym and the sacrifices you make. It’s nice to see them get something in return.”

As a coach of a Leavitt program that won a state title in 2011 and has had three 1,000-point scorers in the past few seasons, it’s another milestone for the program, as well.

“To watch the kids go on to play at a high level, whether they’re your kids or someone else’s, as the head coach of the program, it says a lot to the commitment to the program that these kids have had,” Tammy said. “You’re proud as heck as a coach.”

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Both Courtney and Kristen will wear No. 4 during their college careers. Their parents have even thought about having shirts made with Anderson on the back and the logos of both schools on the front.

“We have strong feelings for both programs,” Tammy said. “Maine obviously has been very special for us, but playing for the New England Crusaders, UNH has become a second home to us as well.”

As a junior, Anderson led Leavitt with 27 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4.9 steals and 68 3s, an average of nearly four per game. She also reached the 1,000-point mark during the season.

kmills@sunjournal.com


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