GROVE CITY — Caitlin McNamara remembers watching one legend of Grove City High girls basketball.

She's now a member of that elite group herself.

The senior has spent the season climbing the ranks of the program's all-time scoring list and enters tonight's game against Hickory with 1,236 career points, which is good for third place behind Kirsten Ellison and Chelsea Smith.

McNamara passed up Molloy, a 2006 graduate who scored 1,206 points at Grove City, with a 23-point showing against Oil City Feb. 1.

"Growing up, I remember watching Julie play a lot," said McNamara. "Getting to 1,000 points was always a goal for me, but I never thought I'd score as many points as I have."

McNamara entered this season with 949 points and reached the 1,000-point milestone against Wilmington at Grove City's season-opening tournament, the Kaiser Classic.

"They stopped the game and gave me the game ball," she said. "A lot of pictures were taken and my parents came onto the court. It was pretty emotional for us."

McNamara is scoring points at a 16.6 per game clip, second only to Butler's Olivia Bresnahan (18.6) among Butler County area girls players.

Eagles' coach T.L. Eller's first season of leading the team was 2006-07, McNamara's freshman campaign.

"Early in her varsity career, Caitlin scored most of her points by shooting 3-pointers," said Eller. "In her sophomore year, she began driving to the hoop.

"Now, she's not shooting the ball as much, but she is scoring as many points. More shots are going to her teammates, but she's always been a scorer. Some players just have a knack for that."

"My first few games as a freshman on the varsity team, I was a bit scared to be playing with a bunch of juniors and seniors," said McNamara.

It didn't show.

She scored 16 points in the Eagles' opening game of the 2006-07 season against Mercer.

McNamara's most points in a game is 26, something she has accomplished five times, including twice this season.

Grove City is currently 9-8 overall and 3-7 in District 10 Region 5, but the season has been a step forward for the program.

"Last year, we won just three games," she said. "Making the playoffs would have been great, but we stuck with it this year and I think it's been a successful season."