Two girls basketball players reach 1,000 points
Every hook shot, free throw and three-pointer they made this season helped junior Madison Piper and senior Caiti Schlesener reach a milestone previously only one other girls basketball player in school history has been able to achieve: 1,000 points.
Before joining the Firebirds this year, Schlesener played three years for the Cornerstone Saints, a home school team in Topeka.
“Before, I played a lot of smaller public schools so it’s definitely a lot more competitive and fast paced and aggressive [at Free State],” Schlesener said. “I knew going into the game I was at 998 [points] and had to get two points so I had to shoot some free throws when I got it. I didn’t exactly realize until after the game when my teammate was picking me up and going crazy.
Running down the court, junior Madison Piper and senior Caiti Schlesener look to score against Leavenworth on January 12.
Piper, who found out she was near the benchmark from her grandfather, did not think she was anywhere close to 1,000 points until she was informed during the Shawnee Mission North game on Feb. 9 she had passed it.
“I thought it was definitely a possibility that I could have the opportunity to reach it, but I didn’t think I was anywhere close to it,” Piper said. “I think I’ve been able to improve my game a lot but I also got to give the credit to the teammates because they hit me those open shots and get me open so us just working together as a team has helped me hit that 1,000 points.”
Piper jogged to a timeout during a game and was informed by team manager Nora Birchfield she had achieved scoring 1,000 points while playing basketball for the school.
“I was counting since I kept score and then at a time out came over and I was like ‘You just hit a 1,000 points’ so she was pretty excited but she kept her cool,” Birchfield said.
According to coa
ch Bryan Duncan, all of the various defenders and problems Piper faces each game makes this accomplishment even more impressive.
“[It’s] amazing, especially since she is face-guarded and double teamed every game,” Duncan said. “She is extremely talented.”
Despite those challenges, Piper not only has 1,000 points but also broke the all time girl’s scoring record in just three years.
“Kennedy [Kirkpatrick], the girl who has the record, joked around with me like, ‘Oh you’re going to beat my record,’ but I was like ‘No I’m not, that’s a lot of points,’” Piper said. “I guess it doesn’t seem real until it happens.”
Piper credits most of the success to her teammates. Even though the girls fell in the sub-state finals to Washburn Rural on March 4, Piper maintains that the ultimate goal for her high school career is making it to state.
“What makes my hard work worth it is when we win and when we achieve our goals,” Piper said. “In our minds, we take it one game at a time, but we know if we keep winning, we’ll have the opportunity to make it to state.”
