Big surprise times 1,000
SLIPPERY ROCK — It was a well-kept secret, right up there with the Bush's Baked Beans recipe, what really happened in Roswell and the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa's body.
Only two people knew Slippery Rock High junior guard Karly Rhoads was close to 1,000 career points: Rockets coach Adrienne Orris and her assistant, Kellie Johnston.
And they weren't talking.
"I had no idea I was even close. Coach Orris kept telling me I wasn't even close," said Rhoads, who scored 25 points to help Slippery Rock to a 73-52 home win over Titusville Thursday night. "I asked her and she said I had 800 points."
Orris and Johnston pulled off the subterfuge like seasoned CIA counterintelligence agents.
Rhoads was considerably closer, needing only 24 points againstTitusville to become the eighth player in Slippery Rock High girls basketball history to reach 1,000.
Her name is now in the same company as Tracey Flynn, Tara Codispot, Heather Kearney, Suzanne Street, Erica Youngman, Jamie Dick and her sister, all-time leading scorer Jence Rhoads.
"I kind of don't even believe it," Karly Rhoads said.
<table width="300" height="275" border="0" align="right" valign="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><embed src="/assets/mov/BE63831130.MOV " width="320" height="250" autostart="true" loop="false" ></embed></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/" target="_blank"><span class="style11">Requires Quicktime Media Player </a><br><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Times New Roman">Video by Brandon Gerthoffer</font></span><td></tr></table>Who can blame her? She had little time to prepare."All those players are awesome, and it's just hard to believe I am in there with them," she added. "It just feels really good to know I'm up there with Jence. It was such a surprise."After Rhoads hit a 3-pointer to give Slippery Rock a 70-48 lead with a minute remaining the game, Orris called a timeout.She contemplated sitting Rhoads for the rest of the night, but changed her mind.On the next possession, Rhoads hit a 3-pointer and Orris called another timeout so her junior guard could be recognized for her achievement.Rhoads' parents, Posey and Melinda, watched from the bleachers with mouths agape.They had no idea, either."I tried to call Melinda today, but she never picked up her phone," Orris said, laughing.Karly joined Jence as the only two players to reach 1,000 during their junior seasons."It's been a goal of mine for awhile," Karly said.Whether or not Karly Rhoads would reach 1,000 points was in doubt. Who would win the game never was, however.Titusville was just 1-of-26 shooting in the first half. If not for a 13-of-14 performance from the free-throw line, Slippery Rock (12-6, 8-2) could have led by more than 30-15 at halftime.
Kourtney Rhoads added 16 points, Taylor Crocker 14 and Adele Campbell 12.Campbell also had eight blocked shots.Campbell's play has been key because forward SarahCessar has been out with a leg injury."(Campbell has) had some great games and she's getting better as the season goes on," Orris said.But the night belonged to Karly Rhoads — even though she didn't know it did until the end."(Karly's) freshman year, Jence shouldered the responsibility," Orris said. "Last year she learned what it was like to shoulder the responsibility and, this year, she is doing it."<B>TITUSVILLE 52</b>Sam Savitz 3-6 7-10 13, Alicia Ward 2-14 4-4 8, Amanda Orr 2-10 2-4 6, Daren Barnhart 2-4 0-0 6 Sarah Slater 0-1 0-0 0, Marissa Neely 2-8 8-8 14, Dorothy Stromdahl 1-10 0-0 2, Ali Massey 0-2 0-0 0, Abu-Saleh 1-2 1-2 3. </B>Totals: 13-57 22-28 52<B>SLIPPERY ROCK 73</b>Karly Rhoads 9-20 4-5 25, Ali Doyle 2-4 0-0 4, Kourtney Rhoads 7-18 0-0 16, Adele Campbell 3-9 6-8 12, Taylor Crocker 6-10 1-1 14, Paige Walter 0 0-0 0, Bre Northcott 1-1 0-0 2, Katja Northcott 0-0 0-0 0, MollyWeitzel 0-0 0-0 0, Jackie Basta 0-0 0-0 0.</B> Totals: 28-62 11-14 73<B>Titusville 8 7 19 18—52Slippery Rock 15 15 21 22—733-point goals:</B> Barnhart 2, Neely 2; Ka. Rhoads 3, Ko. Rhoads 3<B>JV:</B> Slippery Rock 43-38<B>Monday:</B> OilCity at Slippery Rock
