Every opposing defense knows what’s coming when the ball is in number 30’s hands.
They don’t know how it’s coming — whether she’ll attack the rim or pull it from deep. But, more often than not, when Enterprise junior Cat Ahart rises up to score, the ball finds the bottom of the net.
That consistency, coupled with the versatility of how she can put points on the board, is how Ahart reached 1,000 career points against Red Bluff on Jan. 29. It’s how she ended the 2025-26 season with the second-highest scoring average in the Northern Section (19.6 ppg).
And, it’s how she scored 26-points in the first-round of the 2026 NSCIF playoffs to lead the Hornets (16-11) past Las Plumas, 46-34, and into the Division III semifinals.
For Ahart, reaching 1,000 career points only inspires her to keep working hard at the sport she loves.
“It helps confirm that all the work that I’ve put in is worth it and that I should keep going down the path that I’m going on so that I can reach higher goals and keep working hard,” Ahart said.
It’s a goal that not many get to accomplish during their high school careers, yet Ahart reached that milestone in just her junior year. She’s been on the varsity team since her freshman season, and Ahart has only continued to add elements to her game that have contributed to her scoring abilities.
“On the offensive side, I’ve gotten more physical and I don’t look to pass as much,” Ahart said. “I kind of just go head down, get to the rim and get the foul call. If I don’t, it’s OK. Just look for the best shot.”
Head coach Anthony Williams, who has worked with Ahart since she first arrived at Enterprise, has also noticed the junior expand her game. It’s a not-so-secret weapon Williams has been able to rely on all season long.
“Her catch and shoot is really good this year, but also she’s developed a nice one-dribble shot. She can get into her midrange game, or she can pull it up from deep and hit them,” Williams said. “She wasn’t able to do that last year so it’s nice to see her get to her spots, and you can tell she has her spots, and just make them with confidence.”
Ahart put it all on display in the Hornets’ first-round matchup against the Thunderbirds. Ahart started the game aggressively attacking the rim, and it earned her four points off free throws in the first quarter.
The defense closed off the paint, so Ahart stepped back and hit six threes.
She’s a tireless worker and dedicates her free time to improving her game, whether it’s in the film room or simply getting shots up.
“It’s just so cool to see a kid work relentlessly on her game,” Williams said. “I’m telling you, she works all the time every day, even before practice and after practice. It’s crazy.”
Ahart’s dedication to the film room has really played a role in her development as a scorer this season. She’s spent the time to really understand her opponents’ tendencies, and she uses it to her advantage.
“I go back home to watch film, so I go see how they’re guarding me and how they play offense,” Ahart said. “I just see what they did in the past and try and fix what I do so I can navigate my way and find their gaps.”
She showed that with her performance against Las Plumas on Thursday night.
When the paint was closed, she let it fly from deep. The defense didn’t adjust, so she kept letting them fly and kept on hitting them. Three of her six made shots from behind the arc came in the fourth quarter alone.
When she’s on the court, this is what she’s looking for:
“If they’re smaller than me, I’d probably want to attack their hip or if they’re slow, I’d want to try to get to the rim because I know I’m going to get past them,” Ahart said. “But, if they’re going to play off, I’m going to pull up. It depends on their size and speed, and then I look for gaps in between when help is lost.”
A lot of different players can score 20 points in a game. But, to do it consistently takes a different level of dedication to the sport that extends beyond physical talent. Ahart has that physical talent; she’s very cerebral about how she attacks her opponents, but most of all, Ahart loves to win.
“She’s the ultimate competitor. She really wants to win and we see that all the time,” Williams said. “She’s always in that zone, like winning, winning, winning, and it’s good to have someone like that on the team. I think it helps lift up the other girls and gets them to play a little bit harder.”
By this point in the season, it’s no secret that Ahart can score the ball. She’s not just a basketball player, she’s a pure hooper.
She doesn’t just play the game, she lives it.
And, whether Ahart knows it or not, her impact on the Enterprise program extends far beyond what she’s able to do on the court.
“She’s worked hard. She’s developed her shot. When you think of what’s her lasting impact going to be? It’s going to be that she displays hard work outside of practice, outside of the court,” Williams said. “She works on her craft all the time and so we hope the younger kids see that and aspire to be like her and to work on their game.”
The Hornets will continue their playoff run on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when they travel to Chico to face the Panthers (25-4) in the semifinals with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
Enterprise lost both regular season matchups to the Panthers, but with Ahart coming off a dominant 26-point performance, anything is possible.
“It’s definitely nice to have a girl like her to coach,” Williams said. “It makes it easier for sure.”
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Cat Ahart hits 1,000 career points, leads Enterprise in playoffs
Reporting by Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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