Bixby’s Avery Iliff
By Bryce McKinnis
Avery Iliff stars at shooting guard for the Bixby High School Spartans. She also plays soccer, maintains a perfect GPA and participates in National Honor Society, National Charity League and National Society of High School Scholars.
She was a natural from the first time she stepped on the hardwood, and her dedication to the sport has taken her even farther than her innate talent would have forecasted. But Iliff wasn’t always a natural in every category of sports.
“The greatest challenge I’ve faced is the mental side of basketball,” said Iliff, a BHS junior. “I still have to work at overcoming setbacks, but I’ve become mentally tougher and able to fight through those situations without letting it affect my game.”
It was through hard work that Iliff conquered the psychological aspect of failure, but rather than the familiar work associated with her success on the floor or in the books, she worked towards mental balance.
“I am a very self-driven person who does not quit,” Iliff said. “That attitude has always been there, but I think my parents and family play a huge role in it, and they lead me by example.”
Iliff’s basketball career began at three years old with Upward basketball. She started playing grassroots ball at four.
“My parents have played multiple sports throughout their childhood. My dad played football in college, and my two younger brothers are both multi-sport athletes,” Iliff said. “Basketball has taught me a lot of different things about dedication, discipline and perseverance. Those three traits have helped me excel in academics and maintain a GPA higher than 4.0. Discipline and dedication have helped me grow my relationship with God by always putting him first.”
Curving the fear of failure is a particularly difficult challenge for high achievers like Iliff. But, because she has done the diligent work to stabilize herself against adversity, Iliff has excelled across so many categories. As she rounds out her junior year, she’s looking toward the future.
“My plan after high school is to continue my basketball career in college,” Iliff said. “I hope sports take me to the next level and allow me to build relationships.”
