Seneca Valley girls basketball’s Natalie Hambly scores 1,000th point in win vs Butler
BUTLER TWP — Seneca Valley guard Natalie Hambly scored her 1,000th career point in Monday night’s girls basketball game against Butler.
The senior reached the milestone a minute into the second quarter in the WPIAL section rivalry matchup at Butler High School. She drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner to put the Raiders ahead 24-13.
“I knew we’d get the one-more. Brooke hit me, I’m like, ‘Good pass.’ And I knew that was going in when I shot it,” Hambly said after the game, a 60-41 Raiders win.
Hambly buries this corner 3, gives her 1,000 for her career and makes it 24-13 a minute into the 2Q.
— Jake Merda Adams (@jakemerdaadams.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 7:54 PM
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She is the third Raider to crack 1,000 and the first since Olivia West in 2022 finished with exactly that number. Marlesse Schlott (1992) is the program leader with 1,062.
“I think it says a lot about the culture that we’re building there,” Raiders coach Dorothea Epps said. “So hopefully there will be more 1,000-point players. She’s pretty special.”
Hambly was not focused on that, saying: “Definitely a big milestone, but we’re looking for sectionals, WPIALs and states.”
A four-year starter who averaged 14.2 points and two assists a year ago, Hambly came into Monday’s game needing nine points after she was held scoreless a week ago against Plum in the Shady Side Academy Holiday Tournament.
Hambly wasted no time.
She laid one in directly after the opening tipoff, made a pair of free throws and added another layup in the first quarter.
She was 3 of 3 from the field when she made her milestone trey. Her teammates swarmed her at midcourt, and SV called time out a possession later for another round of applause.
“It was nice, and she deserves it,” Epps said. “That girl works her tail off. Of all the girls I’ve had, she’s up in the top one or two that just works hard.”
Hambly finished with 12 points Monday, giving her 1,003 for her career. She was unofficially 4 of 7 from the field. The Raiders improved to 6-5 (3-0 Section 1-6A).
A shooting guard most of her varsity career, Hambly has taken on more of a ball-handling role this season but is still a dangerous scorer no matter where she is on the floor.
“I like having the ball in my hands, but am totally fine with playing shooting guard, too,” Hambly said in November during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day. “Our job on offense is to score, so I’m OK with doing whatever helps us do that.”
The Pitt-Johnstown commit is the second Butler County player to reach the milestone already this season, joining North Catholic boys guard Jason Fredericks.
Slippery Rock’s Madison Romanovich joined the club not long after Hambly with a 27-point performance in a 53-37 win over Franklin.
