Blissfield's Avery Collins joins Lenawee County 1,000 point club

HUDSON — Avery Collins joined the 1,000-point club Tuesday when she scored 27 points in Blissfield’s 65-27 win over Hillsdale.

It’s quite an accomplishment for someone who has never averaged more than 15 points in a game, never scored 30 points in a game and has reached double figures in only 51 of her 86 career games. The 27 points she scored against Hillsdale was her career-high.

“I knew 1000 points was a great milestone to reach,” she said.

Here’s a closer look:

HOW SHE GOT THERE

Collins is averaging 14 points a game this season, the most for her career. Last season, when she was first team all-state, she averaged 12 points a game. For her career, she’s always been a pass-first type of point guard.

“It’s super difficult for someone to be at the point and get it,” Gilbert said. “You always want your ballhandler to distribute it to others. She does that and always has. I’m super proud of her.”

Collins has made 60 career 3-pointers and shoots 62 percent from the free throw line.

In addition to scoring 1,000 career points, she also has surpassed 300 rebounds, assists and steals in her career.

CLUB OF FIVE

Collins is the fifth girls’ basketball player in Blissfield history to reach 1,000 points. Kelsey Wyman is the school’s all-time leader with 1,652 points and is an assistant coach on the current team. Nikki Pawson scored 1,202 career points, Kara Stutzman 1,089 and Brooke Henning 1,014.

Collins was a freshman when Stutzman reached 1,000 career points.

27 AGAINST HILLSDALE

Collins started out Tuesday’s game with 10 points in the opening quarter, setting the stage for the milestone. She knew how many points she needed coming into the game – 27.

“I was just going to be happy with whatever happened,” she said. “I knew where I was. It was nice to get it at home.”

She had 17 at halftime, scored early in the third quarter to get to 21 for the game. She made three straight baskets late in the third quarter to reach 1,000. The basket that put her over the top was on a post-up move in the paint.

After a timeout, Collins went back in the game, fouled and was taken out. She did not play in the fourth quarter. After the game, she took a series of photos with family as they unrolled a banner in her honor.

“They all came tonight,” she said. “I’m glad I got it for everybody who came out.”

LCAA CHAMPIONS

With the win, Blissfield clinched a share of the LCAA title. They can win it outright with wins in either of their final two league games – against Hudson and Madison.

There was little celebration of that, however.

“We don’t get too high, that’s for sure,” Gilbert said. “They have bigger goals I think.”

NEXT LEVEL

Collins wants to play college basketball. During the off-season she had committed to Concordia University in Ann Arbor, but when it was announced recently that the school was having financial issues, she followed what a lot of other senior high school athletes did and decommit.

Her options are now open.

“I’m a stressed person,” she said, “I like to know what’s going on right now. I felt like I had to open up my options. Everyone who knows sports and athletics told me I should just let the coach know, open up my options and see what happens. I told the (Concordia) coach if something were to happen, I would still sign the paper. My heart is with her, but I have to leave my options open.”

There’s been no shortage of suitors.

“I’ve had a ton of coaches reach out, which I’m grateful for. I’m just going to wait it out a little bit and see what happens,” Collins said. “My phone has been blowing up every day.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Blissfield's Avery Collins reaches 1,000 point milestone