To the vast majority of athletes, the most important stat is the
letter in the W/L column - as it should be. However, the one individual
accolade that no scorer will deny its personal importance is the 1,000
point plateau.
Many players will list it as an
individual goal. When someone is getting close, they know. Not only do
they have the count going in their head, they're hearing about it often.
Whether it's from teammates, classmates/teachers in the hall, or league
coordinators tweeting about it (sorry), the buzz is all around.
Many
of these athletes that participated in the 2016 Empire State
Takeover summer invitational league & Upstate Elite Showcase fall event have either surpassed the 1,000 point
plateau this year, already did so before last summer, or are rapidly
approaching it now. A total of 17 girls have crossed the
barrier, with 13 doing so this winter. A rapidly increasing number of players
are quickly getting there. A quick rundown of these elite scorers:
* All totals are updated to the best of my knowledge through February 2 games *
- Nina Fedullo (5'11" F, Amsterdam 2017; Saint Rose signee) hit the quadruple digit mark as a junior, in a season where she shattered Amsterdam's single game and career scoring marks along with reaching the 1,000 point plateau. With another strong senior year to add to a stellar career, she ended her high school career with exactly 1,500 points - 2nd in Amsterdam history (boys or girls) and the leading scorer in Amsterdam girls' history by over 550 points.
- Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (5'11" G/F, Mohonasen 2017; Davidson signee) surpassed the 1,000 point mark in the middle of her junior season, just another milestone in a high school career that has seen her rewrite Mohonasen's record books in numerous statistical categories. She also set the Mohonasen school record for career points in her 3rd game this season, which previously was at 1,336. Saeeda finished her illustrious career with 1,691 points, and also exploded past the 1,000 rebound mark, where she finished with 1,204.
- Shiane Irwin (5'5" G, Poland 2017) hit the 1,000 point mark with a handful of games to spare in her junior season, and her offensive output has only grown from there. In a January 26 win over Herkimer, Shiane became her high school's all-time leading scorer on the girls' side. With a senior season that saw her produce a career high in per game output and another season averaging well over 20 points per game, the multi-sport standout finished off with 1,572 career varsity points.
- Olivia Marshall (5'11" F, Stockbridge Valley 2017) celebrated her 1,000th point over Christmas break her junior year, and her statistically phenomenal career has continued to stride forward. Along with dominating the stat sheet in other categories - finishing her career with 9 triple doubles and having a double-double in all but two games her senior year - she ended her high school career with 1,706 points.
- Caitlin Estes (5'11" G, Scotia-Glenville 2017; Adelphi commit) was the first to hit the 1,000 point plateau this winter, doing so in a December 2 game against Averill Park in their tournament. The senior has averaged double digits so far this season, pushing her current total near the 1,200 mark.
- Kelly Pine (5'11" F, Hoosick Falls 2017) added the 1,000 point milestone on a long list of successes in her 5 year varsity career in a December 20 game against rival Hoosic Valley. Pine left her own personal mark in a Hoosick Falls record book that is more Pine-dominated than a forest, and she finished her career with 1,328 varsity points to her name.
- Madison McCabe (5'4" G, AuSable Valley 2017), one of northern NY's most prolific scorers over the last couple years, hit the 1,000 point mark in a victory over Peru on December 27. With continued offensive production and a scoring average of nearly 20 PPG so far this year, she's approaching 1,150 career points.
- Brianna Laing (5'4" G, South Kortright 2017; Hartwick commit) also surpassed 1,000 points during Christmas tournament week, doing so in a tournament at Whitney Point on December 28. With continued strong production - and in South Kortright fashion, continued victories - she's approaching 1,100 points as of now.
- Kyra Oeffler (5'11" F, Heatly 2018), the lone first member of the 2018 class to make this list, got her 1,000th point in a way I may never see again - when her team pitched a 32 minute shutout. She hung 34 quick points to hit the 1,000 mark in what turned out to be a 69-0 victory over Doane Stuart on January 3. Her career point total sits at 1,213 with another year remaining.
- Danielle Caivana (5'2" G, Frankfort-Schuyler 2017; Cazenovia commit) is her school's most recent addition to the 1,000 point club, after having done so on January 6 in their win over Herkimer. With a high-octane senior year that saw her score 35 or more points on four different occasions, she ended her high school career with 1,297 points.
- Julianna Taylor (5'5" G, Fonda-Fultonville 2017; SUNY Brockport commit) added to her illustrious high school career by storming her way into the 1,000 point club in a victory over neighboring Johnstown on January 16. She came into the game needing only 5 points, and she hit that mark early en route to a 25 point game. She was one of Section II's most prolific scorers through her senior year, averaging 20.6 PPG, and ended her Fonda career with 1,209 points.
- Ally Crosby (5'10" F, Hammond 2018) etched her name as the newest member of the 1,000 point club on the same day as the aforementioned Taylor, doing it just over an hour later on January 16. A layup in the 3rd quarter of her team's win over St. Lawrence pushed her into quadruple digits. A prolific scorer and rebounder, she's incredibly become a member of the 1,000 point/1,000 rebound club with 1.5 seasons remaining in her varsity career, as she surpassed 1,000 rebounds in a game just before Christmas. She's continuing major production among Section X competition, and she's approaching the 1,100 mark.
- CeCe Mayo (5'9" G, Shaker 2017; Army West Point commit) became one of the not-as-common members of the 1,000 point club from the Class AA ranks on January 19, just the latest accomplishment of a decorated tenure at Shaker that included seeing her become the first member of the Class of 2017 to commit to a school, way back at the end of her sophomore year. The longtime standout converted in the paint in the middle of the 2nd quarter to reach the 1,000 point milestone. She'll have at least another month to add to that total (among other things), as she sits around the 1,100 mark currently.
- Gwen Carpenter (5'4" G, Mount Everett (MA) 2019) is the 14th girl from the 2016 EST summer league to eclipse the 1,000 point milestone, but she made her mark as the 1st to do so out of the Class of 2019 on January 19. Needing 11 points to hit the mark headed into a rivalry game against Mount Greylock, she converted on a layup in the middle of the 3rd quarter to hit quadruple digits. She proceeded to light the nets on fire, scoring 22 more in the remainder of regulation and overtime to finish with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in the game. She followed that up with a remarkable 49 point, 12 rebound, 6 assist, 9 steal performance that won't soon be forgotten. Carpenter currently has 1,123 career points and counting with two years remaining, and could've had more if a knee injury didn't cut her sophomore season a few games short.
- Jordan Hipwell (5'10" F, Ballston Spa 2017) added the 1,000 point individual milestone to a list of high school athletic accomplishments in their January 27 victory over Schenectady. She has long been known as a threat for her Scotties squad as a varsity member for half a decade. She scored her 1,000th on a layup in the middle of the 2nd quarter, halfway through a 14 point game in a blowout victory. Hipwell finished her high school career with 1,073 points.
- Allison Moreau (5'8" G, Sauquoit Valley 2019) quickly followed Carpenter and became the 2nd member of the Class of 2019 - and 16th overall from the 2016 EST summer league - to eclipse the 1,000 point mark, doing so on January 28. Already a standout on her varsity team since 8th grade, she needed 15 points to hit quadruple digits, and did so by hitting a free throw with 3:30 remaining in their game against Cooperstown. The skilled combo guard, adept at making plays for others as well, sits at 1,148 and counting with two varsity seasons upcoming.
- Lucy Tougas (5'11" G, Glens Falls 2017) reached the 1,000 point milestone in a most uncommon setting, and one that I'd be surprised if I ever see again. The stat stuffing, pass-first PG - who may also have 500+ rebounds and 500+ assists in her varsity career - notched her 1,000th point with 1:25 remaining in the 1st quarter on a putback. She was the first, but not the only to reach the milestone on this evening or even this quarter - in her own family, that is. More on that below. The 4 year varsity standout hit this mark despite not being a score-first player. After a great senior season that included being the Section II Class B tournament MVP while leading Glens Falls to a 2nd straight sectional title, she ended her HS career with 1,107 career points.
- Sophie Tougas (6'1" G, Glens Falls 2019) didn't waste much time in adding her name to the 1,000 point banner. With 17.1 seconds left in the 1st quarter - just 68 seconds after older sister Lucy hit quadruple digits - Sophie joined her by knocking down a three, a skill she's developed a great deal over the last two years. The silky smooth scorer with nearly unrivaled perimeter & post versatility will have quite a while to add to this number, and she currently has 1,134 points.
Other 2016 Empire State Takeover participants are nearing the 1,000 point milestone. Those names include:
- Lyndsey McCoy (5'5" G, Middleburgh 2017) - 984 career points
- Kenna Guynup (5'6" G, Beekmantown 2017) - 964 career points
- Rebekkah Dean (5'9" G, Mekeel Christian Academy 2018) - 958 career points
- Madison Little (5'9" G, Mount Anthony Union (VT) 2017) - 944 career points
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