Newaygo Girls Remain Undefeated in Conference Play as Long Scores 1000 Career Points
Photos and Story by Alexis Mercer Many people dream of being basketball stars as kids. Shooting the winning shot as the buzzer goes off; taking home a big Championship trophy; driving past your rival to drain the layup. But for most people, the dream fades and never becomes a reality. Not for Jaylee Long of the Newaygo Lions. Years upon years of practice are behind her dream. Literally every day she shoots hundreds of shots; works on her craft. This year all that hard work is paying off in big ways. She is the basketball star she always dreamed she would be, but it isn’t because she just dreamed: she has earned it. Long, who is committed to play at Cornerstone University next year, shot a routine free throw after being fouled in the game against Grant on Friday, March 5th in her home gym. After she made it, the gym erupted into cheers of congratulations, fans giving her a standing ovation and her teammates and peers jumping for joy. The best part? Jaylee truly had no idea why. Jaylee Long had just scored her 1000th career point as a Newaygo Lion, making her only the 8th female in the history of the school to do so. Her sister, junior Jaxi, walked over to her and was able to give her the news. Jaylee’s smile lit up that gym. She walked over to Coach Thomasma, gave him a hug, gave her teammates high fives, walked back to the free throw line and sank her 1001st shot. All this took place in the Snowcoming night at the Lions gymnasium against the rival from just down M-37. The two teams having met up just two weeks ago did not lessen the anticipation for an intense rivalry matchup. Grant’s Sara Arends banked a three point shot to start the scoring for the game. Grant had definitely come to avenge their loss in their own gym against the Lions. Kayla Fisk came back with a quick shot inside. Within a minute of these first two baskets, Emmerson Goodin found herself with 2 fouls and on the bench. The refs had also come to play and they were not taking any aggressiveness without a whistle. Jaxi Long made two free throws and then joined Goodin in the 2-fouls-in-the-early-first-quarter-club. Not the club Coach Thomasma was hoping to form. With only eight players on the roster, they could hardly afford to lose any to fouling out early. Tiger Mackenzie Ritz made a nice basket underneath and in the scramble for a lost ball, Jaylee Long took a foul. Lily Swinehart found space that hadn’t been plentiful and gently laid a shot in giving Newaygo the 12-8 lead. But they were also winning the foul game, leading that 9-3. The second quarter was a defensive battle with aggressive play inside the box. Lion Jaylee Long took advantage of the close quarters inside and drained a 3 from deep with 4 minutes left in the half to go up 21-13. Anna Brummel finished out the half with a 3 point shot of her own and the Lions went into the locker room up 21-13. In case the Tigers figured they would get a quick start on the League leading Lions in the second half, Jaylee Long put an end to that thought. Fisk and Jaxi Long helped in the scoring department. The Lions held Grant to only 13 points in the 3rd quarter while they scored 17 of their own. Grant was patient and did not panic. They were methodical about their defense, making sure that if the Lions were going to score, it was going to be earned. But this is when Jaylee Long took control, hitting one outside, then one inside, and then the free throws that marked the 1000th point of her career. Coach Thomasma said of the game, "A really competitive game tonight. Grant played a good game and made us earn everything we got. We battled foul trouble all in the (9 fouls in the first quarter) but the girls kept battling against a very game Grant team. We were 14-16 from the FT line which helped us maintain our lead." "Jaylee eclipsed her 1,000 point tonight (she's at 1,001 now). Not only is she a great basketball player, but she is a tremendous leader. I couldn't be more proud of her. She definitely earned this achievement along with the many great teammates she has played with." Jaylee Long led the Lions with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Jaxi Long had 11 points. Emmerson Goodin had 10 points and 8 rebounds. The Lions ended up winning 54-40 and remain the sole leaders of the CSAA Gold. They move to 10-1 (9-0 in conference). Grant drops to 3-9 (3-7 in conference).
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