Patience pays dividends for Indiana's new 3-point record holder from Twin Lakes
MONTICELLO, Ind. — Twin Lakes senior Olivia Nickerson ran down the court and placed her hands just above her chest as the historic moment unfolded at Kent Adams Court on Wednesday.
The ball had just gently fallen through the net for her 364th career 3-pointer — the most in the storied history of Indiana girls high school basketball.
But how long did Nickerson wait before taking her first official 3-pointer?
Her moment might not have occurred without her father Troy Nickerson watching her every move, making sure his daughter stuck with the basics every step of the way. The fact is, she didn't fire her first 3-pointer until the sixth grade.
A long-term gain came to fruition for Nickerson, who learned her form by attending shooting camps led by Indiana Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Hoover. The current Logansport girls head coach planted the seeds for her to become one of the most feared outside shooters in the state.
"It's kind of ironic how I beat the record," Nickerson said. "He thought shooting threes would mess up my form."
Nickerson practiced her shooting motion thousands of times, both in practice and during games under the supervision of her father. Once she learned the proper followthrough, shooting became her obsession. Repetition has become her routine, each day firing 200 shots either before or after practice.
"She's not the biggest, she's not the fastest or the most athletic in a lot of games," Troy Nickerson said. "Since she was young she could work on her shooting and I'm really proud of her for all the hard work. Because without the hard work, she wouldn't be the basketball player she is."
Nickerson embracing her father and teammates put to rest the anticipation for a record she had been chasing. Becoming a member of Indiana's rich high school basketball royalty.
The ball she held in her hands signified the goals and dreams she set for herself after falling in love with basketball in the first grade.
"This ball represents all of my hard work," Nickerson said.
Ethan Hanson started working for the Journal & Courier in West Lafayette, Indiana after four years at the Record Searchlight in Redding, CA. He previously freelanced with the Los Angeles Daily News for four years. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson and ethan_a_hanson on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Twin Lakes' Olivia Nickerson breaks Indiana high school 3-point record
