Tuesday, February 11th, 2014
Rangers boast two 1,000-point scorers
By Gary R. Rasberry
NEW KNOXVILLE - To have a 1,000-point scorer on a team is a tremendous accomplishment.
Two of them on the same team is rare.
Paige Lehman hit a free throw with 11 seconds left during Monday's win over St. Henry to give the Rangers a pair of 1,000-point scorers after Haley Horstman reached the milestone earlier in the season.
Within the last five days, the Rangers reached two milestones. Last Thursday in Fort Recovery, Horstman set New Knoxville's career scoring mark after scoring her 1,179th point early in the second quarter, passing Jill (Henschen) Heitkamp, who played for the Rangers from 1979-1983.
Then came Lehman's effort in the win over St. Henry. Lehman had 12 in the first quarter, but the final five were hard-fought, thanks to solid defense by the Redskins throughout the second half.
It marks the first time New Knoxville has had two 1,000-point scorers on the same team. Coming into the season, only three Rangers reached 1,000 points in their career.
"That doesn't happen too often, does it?" said New Knoxville coach Tim Hegemier of the two 1,000-point scorers. "They've been playing for me for four years as starters. They're two hard-working girls. They deserve all of it."
Lehman credits her and Horstman's effort to two things.
"A lot of hard work and team work," said Lehman. "We work together and it all comes together in the end."
For Horstman, who is the favorite to win her third straight Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year award this season, it's truly a full team effort to reach the milestone.
"I'm just happy that Paige and I could get it," said Horstman. "We just can't thank our coaches and teammates enough. Without them, it just wouldn't be possible. We're just happy to get it in the same year."
It's been an inside-outside combination between Lehman, who does most of her work inside the paint, and Horstman, who is the Rangers' point guard. The pair have been teammates and friends for years.
"She's always been with me. It has been nice playing (basketball) with her," said Horstman.
