Clearview Regional senior basketball guard Emma Steidle reached a major milestone during a dominating 60-29 win over Delsea High School last month: her 1,000th career point.
“(It was) such an amazing and memorable moment,” said Steidle on her Twitter page.
“It was great to see Emma score her 1,000th point,” noted head coach Casey Heitman of the Jan. 26 game. “She got it on a steal and a breakaway layup. As a coach, I’m happy to see Emma reaching her goals. She is an incredibly hard worker and it’s great to see that hard work pay off.”
Steidle’s friends and teammates crowded around her after the record was set, jumping up and down and cheering her on. They carried balloons that were marked with the number 1,000 and Steidle’s parents displayed a custom banner made just for their daughter.
“The atmosphere that night was awesome,” Heitman recalled. “We had a great crowd. It was our Coaches Vs Cancer game, so people came out to support a good cause and had hopes of seeing Emma reach the 1,000-point milestone.
Our middle school team was there along with some other youth league teams,” she added, “so I think that was a great moment for them to see. It can show them how hard work pays off and the celebration of reaching such an awesome milestone.”
Clearview will officially acknowledge Steidle’s feat with a banner in the gym. Photos were also posted on the Facebook page of the school’s athletics department, along with a Twitter video of the moment. The game in its entirety can be viewed on Clearview’s YouTube channel.
On top of her milestone, Steidle was selected as a nominee to represent the state in the McDonald’s High School All-American game, according to NJ.com. After she graduates from Clearview, Steidle will continue to play basketball at Rollin College in Florida.
“I want to thank my parents for shaping me into the person and player I am today and all of my family, friends, teammates and coaches that have supported and recruited me along the way,” Steidle expressed on Twitter.
“Also, a big thank you to my trainer, Lamarr Greer, for the years of training and everything he has taught me,” she added. “I give all the glory to God and trust in the plan that He has for me.”