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'A dream come true': 1,000 points still a big deal for Gastonia, Shelby basketball players

joe l hughes ii, gaston gazette
·4 min read

Drew Hollifield admits he’s long been intrigued by Shelby High basketball’s lengthy list of 1,000-point scorers.

Attached to a wall overlooking Lloyd Little Gymnasium, he studied each individualized gold plate accompanying the black board listing members of the exclusive club. In recent seasons, he’s watched as the girls hoops team added to new memberships, including Hollifield’s cousins Ally and Kate, as well as former Lady Lion standout Maraja Pass surpassed 1,000 points in their respective careers. However, while scouring the list earlier this season, something became greatly apparent to the Shelby boys hoops standout.

“I’ve been playing here since I was a freshman, and there hadn’t been a 1,000-point scorer at Shelby High since 2017 and Quay Kimble,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to get my name on that wall; being part of (the 1,000-point club) has been a dream (of mine).”

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Last month, Hollifield earned his place among the school’s most prolific scorers by earning his 1,000th career point during a 71-59 win over East Gaston.

“This is the top moment of my high school career,” he said.  I’ve transitioned more to being a football player, but basketball still holds a big piece of my heart. So for this to happen, it’s a moment I’ll always remember.”

Though all aspire to earn all-state and player of the year awards, no honor is more commonly recognized than one reaching the 1,000-point club. At the start of play Friday night, a dozen active high school basketball players in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties had earned membership.

Among those was Highland Tech’s Addie McCraw, whose consistency was rewarded with her achieving the career milestone during a Jan. 24 victory over Sugar Creek.

“As much as I (scored) the points, it’s a team thing,” she said. “My freshman year, we had seven players on the team; six on a good day. We had multiple games, I think two or three, where we literally just had someone stand on the court because they were injured. We had no subs and were playing 4-on-5.

“But from freshman year it was me, Reese (Thomas) and Bailey (Maiers). From there, we built it up and up; the next year we were a little better, the year after that we started working more as a team.”

McCraw isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, either. The Lady Rams’ 5-foot-8 forward also has more than 1,000 career rebounds.

“She just brings it every night. She isn’t the type to shoot (3-pointers), she’s probably made two or three her entire career,” said Highland Tech girls basketball coach Troy McBeth. “Rebounding, she’s the type to get 15 or 16 every night. And she actually believes she’s having an off year in that regard because she’s averaging just above 15 per game right now. You can’t help but love having a player who, despite doing so much, is still wanting more.”

In addition to Shelby’s Hollifield, six other area boys basketball players have amassed 1,000 career points as of Feb.15.

  • Jackson Fannon, East Lincoln

  • Kelan Flowers, Lincoln Charter

  • Kellen Karr, North Lincoln

  • Cameron Newman, Gaston Christian

  • Joe Rhyne, Gaston Christian

  • Trenton Sherrill, East Gaston

In addition to McCraw, five other girls hoops standouts have reached the 1,000-point plateau.

  • Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer

  • Myla Hoover, Hunter Huss

  • Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City

  • Brooklyn Swann, Hunter Huss

  • Hadley Womack, Stuart Cramer

Both lists may add new members in short order. Heading into Friday night, Crest boys hoops standout A.J. Adams is 15 points shy of the career milestone, while South Point girls dynamo Amya Graham has scored 980 points. Gaston Christian’s Makoi Mabor Marier is also within striking distance, 43 points short of 1,000 for his career.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA basketball: Here are Gastonia, Shelby area's 1,000-point scorers