One of the area’s most talented girls basketball players over the last several years will continue her career on the college level.
Anna Vogt, a 2012 graduate of Pacific High School, recently signed a letter of intent with Three Rivers Community College.
Three Rivers is a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) school located in Poplar Bluff.
Vogt, a 6-0 forward, picked Three Rivers over William Woods University in Fulton.
“I like the idea of going to a junior college for two years,” Vogt said. “I was getting recruited by a lot of small Division I schools before my knee injury. I don’t want to regret not giving Division I at least a chance. If I can stay healthy for the next two years, maybe I’ll still have a shot to play Division I.”
Three Rivers was the junior college Vogt selected.
“I like the campus. I like the girls I met on the basketball team. It’s a comfortable place for me,” Vogt said. “I also get a dorm room to myself. I get a kitchen to myself. I can cook tacos, my favorite food.”
Vogt’s first two varsity seasons at Pacific were impressive. She averaged 16.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a freshman and 21.7 points and 14.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Also a standout volleyball player at Pacific, Vogt reached 1,000 career points just three games into her junior season and was on pace to rewrite the record books at Pacific.
And then the injuries came.
After averaging 21 points and 13.5 rebounds per game through the first seven contests of her junior season, Vogt suffered a torn ACL in her knee during pregame warmups at Rolla, the Lady Indians’ eighth game of the season.
Vogt missed the remainder of the season.
After a successful rehab stint, Vogt suffered a torn ACL in her other knee during her senior season while playing with her club team approximately three weeks prior to the start of the high school hoops season.
Vogt was able to return and play the final five games of her senior campaign.
While Vogt wasn’t 100 percent healthy, she did give the young Lady Indians a boost, which carried over to a district championship.
In her five games as a senior, Vogt scored 50 points and grabbed 47 rebounds. She had 18 points and 15 rebounds in a sectional loss to Miller Career Academy, the final game of her high school career.
“Getting back for districts was a lot of fun. I’m not going to lie, I was in a little pain during those games,” Vogt said. “Our last game was a great game, even though we lost. We played great. My knee didn’t bother me. I finally felt like normal.”
Despite playing just 12 games combined as a junior and a senior, Vogt finished her career with 1,160 points and 806 rebounds.
“Obviously my sophomore and freshman seasons are what I’ll remember the most,” Vogt said. “My senior year was great until I got hurt. We had a great volleyball season.”
Vogt is ready to begin her college basketball career.
“I feel good. My knees don’t bother me. I’m hoping to play right away at Three Rivers, but I know I have to work hard to do that. I just want to play basketball,” Vogt said. “I need to improve my jump shooting from around 15 feet and my defense can always get better.
“I think a big strength of mine is my competitiveness. I hate to lose. On the court, I know I can score, rebound and block shots. I’ll be going against bigger and better players, so I have to improve everything.”
Prior to her injury problems, Vogt heard from Missouri Valley Conference schools, such as Evansville and Creighton, and even Big 12 and Big 10 schools, such as Kansas State and Nebraska, respectively.
“Anna is a great kid and deserves the chance to show how much she has worked to get back to basketball,” said Pacific Girls Basketball Coach Josh Spuhl. “She will do well in any program. I look forward to taking the team down to Three Rivers to see her play next season. She will be greatly missed by the coaching staff and fellow players. We wish her all the best from Pacific.”
Anna has not decided what her major will be at Three Rivers. She is the daughter of Jerome and Vicky Vogt.
