Land becomes area all-time leading scorer

By Ed Taylor, Sports Correspondent

January 30, 2008 04:32 pm

— With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter, senior Natalie Land stood at the charity stripe needing only one point to become the area’s all-time leading scorer for both boys and girls. As she bounced the basketball on the hardwood then giving it a spin in her hands, the first of two attempts was nothing but net giving her 3,260 career points. After hitting the first free throw time was called where Land was presented the game ball for her accomplishment. She finished with 23 points in a 68-49 win over visiting Florida High.
The final two points did not come easy in a game that was very physical. “They were hard to get. This is a big honor for me and I am really, really happy,” said Land. “I knew I was close to the record tonight. It is a great honor to be up there with all the great scorer’s in the area.”
The record fell when Land, as well as other Lady Hornets, were not enjoying a good scoring night. “It was just a bad shooting night,” said the senior guard. “It was in the back of my mind and I think I was trying too hard. I think we were a little fatiqued from the P.K. Yonge game earlier this week. We came out and won and that is the main thing.”
The win improved the Lady Hornets to 21-2 on the season.
Sunshine Reid, who is one of the most underrated players in the area, finished with 15 points but had six assists and five steals as well as four rebounds. Land pulled down 24 rebounds to go with her 23 points for a double-double. She had eight assists and five steals. Cartesha Macklin finished in double figures with 15 points. She had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Lafayette will be on the court tomorrow night in district tournament play in quest for their sixth district championship in six seasons. “Our goal this year has always been a state championship,” said Land of the third ranked Lady Hornets. “We just want to keep winning.”
Lafayette led by as many as 27 points in the game. Trailing 60-39 in the fourth quarter, the Lady Seminoles put together a 10-0 run to narrow the margin to 60-46 but could get no closer.
Reid opened the scoring for the Lady Hornets with a three-point basket on the game’s first play. Reid drilled a second trey in the first period and a rebound basket by Eileen Givens gave Lafayette a 18-7 lead. The Lady Hornets led 42-23 at the half. Reid’s third trey and consecutive baskets by Land and Lilli Prine ended the first half scoring.
Coach Jimmy Blankenship recalled the first time Land stepped on the court to play for the Lady Hornets. “Coach (Jerry) Hill and I were talking about that the other day about when she got on the court for the first time for us in a summer camp up in Auburn,” he said. “She stole the ball and went in with a left hand lay up. It seems like that was just this summer. Suddenly she is breaking these records her senior year and it’s quite an accomplishment. She has worked very hard for this. She deserves everything she gets.”
Coach Blankenship said the only thing that eludes Land is a state championship ring. “That would be a great way to go out as a senior. We know that it is a hard road,” he said. “We are playing in probably the toughest region. There were times tonight we played real good and times we got a little sloppy. Florida High is a tough team to play. They are a good ballclub. We have to have an emotional let down from the P.K. (Yonge) game.”
Lafayette will play in the semifinals of the girls district tournament tomorrow night. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday night at 7 p.m.