CLARION, Pa. – Less than a minute into the first quarter, Punxsutawney’s Sarah Weaver became the sixth girls’ basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
Weaver accomplished the feat on a fastbreak layup off a feed from her longtime friend and fellow senior, Riley Presloid 54 seconds into a 49-29 win at Clarion.
Weaver, who needed one point coming into the game after a 20-point output Friday night in a win over Moniteau, ended the afternoon with nine points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
She said scoring 1,000 career points wasn’t something she really thought about.
“Honestly, all season I haven’t really thought about the 1,000 points,” Weaver said. “My mentality going into a game is work hard and motivate your team to do better. I just thought the points would come, and they did. I am just very thankful.”
Watch Weaver’s postgame interview after she was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game
Behind five points from Weaver, the Lady Chucks started fast scoring nine of the first 10 points.
Punxsutawney’s lead grew to 11, 18-7, at halftime, and then
The Lady Chucks then started the second half on a 14-5 run to push the lead to 20, 32-12, with Chloe Presloid hitting a pair of 3-pointers to help fuel the run.
Clarion was able to cut the deficit to 16, 34-18, going to the fourth quarter.
But there was too much Weaver and Riley Presloid in the final eight minutes for the Lady Cats.
Weaver added four more points, including these two on a great pass from Kierstin Riley.
Meanwhile, Riley Presloid caught fire from the outside hitting three 3-pointers in the quarter, including this one with about two-and-half minutes to play.
Thanks to the late barrage of triples, Riley Presloid scored a game-high 15 points while adding four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.
Also for the Lady Chucks, Katelyn Griebel chipped in seven points, five rebounds, and two helpers.
Jordan Best led Clarion with 11 points, including eight in the second half, while Erica Selfridge contributed 10.
The win pushed Punxsutawney to 16-0 on the season. The Lady Chucks are an incredible 90-1 in their past 91 games against District 9 opponents while winning 28 in a row vs. D9 foes.
Clarion, which lost for the eighth time in 11 games, fell to 10-9.
Weaver (left) With Punxsutawney head coach Mike Carlson. Photo by Al Modrzejewski
Weaver, who now has 1,008 career points, joins an elite group of Punxsutawney players over 1,000 points.
PUNXSUTAWNEY 1,000-POINT SCORERS
1. Staci Heberling – 2005 – 1,575
2. Kim Duke – 2000 – 1,071
3. Brittany Nelson – 2003 – 1, 069
4. Lauren Martino – 2007 – 1,046
5. Leah Miller – 2018 – 1,037
6. Sarah Weaver – 2021 – 1,008 (Through Feb. 27)
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