Photo Courtesy Larry Bale - Raymond HS junior Kyra Gardner scored her 1,000th point last Tuesday night (May 4) at Seagull gym.
Raymond HS standout basketball student-athlete Kyra Gardner scored her 1,000th point during the season opening 86-15 victory over Ocosta last Tuesday night (May 4) at Seagull gym. Gardner scored 38 points on the night.
"Accomplishing this goal means the world to me," Gardner told the Herald. "I had a goal ever since I was little to reach 1,000 points, and I would have never made it to where I am now without my parents and family always pushing me to be the best."
Raymond HS Athletic Director Mike Tully offered his thoughts about the accomplishment.
"It is always an impressive accomplishment when a high school basketball player reaches the 1,000-point mark for their career," Tully told the Herald. "Kyra's accomplishment is especially impressive because she has done it so quickly. She is an incredibly talented athlete, and it has been a joy to watch her development as a player and a person. It's exciting to think about what she can accomplish through the rest of her career."
Raymond head coach Jason Koski told the Herald, "Kyra was really good (vs Ocosta), accomplishing the 1,000-point club in her 48th game. She definitely deserves all the accolades and success she gets; she has definitely earned it," adding that Gardner has dedicated "lots of hard work and commitment to her game."
"Kyra is the 13th girl to reach the 1,000-point milestone, and she is already up to 11th on the career list," Tully noted. "Kyra is the fastest to reach the milestone in terms of games played. Karlee Freeman reached 1,000 in the final game of her sophomore year, but she played in 51 games in her two years. Kyra passed 1,000 in her 48th game."
Tully informed that Ronalda Dunn is the career scoring leader with 1,859 points.
"There are nine boys basketball players that have reached 1,000 points," Tully added. "If not for his season-ending foot injury, Tre' Seydel would have reached that mark this season."