Stokes reaches 1,000 career points in Huskies’ win

RIVERSIDE - It was a basic 15-foot baseline jumper that made the score 9-4 for Highland, just an average shot for two points with 4 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first quarter of Highland's girls basketball game against English Valleys High School Monday.

Except it wasn't. It wasn't average or basic at all. It was the 1,000th point that Highland senior Aly Stokes has scored in her four-year career.

It helped Highland take a 47-35 victory in the nonconference game.

'It felt great, it felt awesome. Going into the game, I knew I only needed five points, so I knew it was going to come quick,” Stokes said. 'I have been counting down the points to get to 1,000. I've been looking forward to it a lot. I knew going into the season how many I needed.”

'I knew all about the Stokes kid,” English Valleys coach Becky Becker said. 'Good players are going to get their points. We just wanted to try to limit them. We just wanted to limit what she could do. Some of her points came from far beyond the three line, so I am going to give that to her. There are not very many kids who are going to hit that consistently. She is everything that I heard she was. She definitely lived up to the hype.”

Stokes made a 3-pointer to put the Huskies up 4-3 and made two others in the game on her way to 22 points.

'She is a special player,” Highland coach Jody Fink said. 'She gives it all she has. She is the fifth player in Highland history to score a thousand and that is all since I've been here.”

Stokes has another milestone in her sights. She is only 120 rebounds away from 1,000. She would be only the third to reach that mark.

'It was nice to get it early in the game,” Fink said. 'I wanted to get it early in the season. I know she wanted to get it Friday (in the Huskies win at Columbus Junction), but she was really pressing to get to it. She was forcing a lot of shots. She wanted to get it behind her. She was upset with me Friday for not letting her get it, but it was such a physical game, I did not want to risk injury. I felt horrible, but at the same time, I don't wanna risk her getting hurt because it was a rough game. Evidently she forgave me (Sunday) because we talked about it (Monday).”

The game was stopped so Stokes could receive congratulations. Stokes will receive a presentation to honor her feat Friday when the Huskies host Iowa Mennonite School.

The Bears scored the next six points before Stokes made 1 of 2 foul shots, then scored five more to take a 15-10 lead, sparking a timeout from Fink.

Stokes made a trey and got an offensive rebound and putback to tie the score at 15 to end the first quarter.

Madison Trimpe had seven of the Bears' points and finished with 21.

'She understands how to use her body,” Becker said. 'She understands positioning in the post and uses that to her advantage.”

Trimpe was the only Bear to score in the second quarter while five different Huskies scored to lead 30-24 at halftime.

'Trimpe did a great job,” Fink said. 'She's a good post. We got to get her out of there.”

A Stokes triple gave Highland its first double-digit lead with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter.

An EV timeout failed to slow the Huskies down. A block by Stokes (she had four in the game) helped Highland lead 43-32 at the end of the third period.

'It always feels good to get a block,” Stokes said. 'I know as a player that when I get blocked, it really frustrates me, so it really helps to get into girls' head when I can get a block on them.”

English Valleys was aggressive in the first half, but got away from that mindset in the second half and Highland was able to take advantage of that. While an early 3-pointer helped open up the middle for English Valley, they were not able to sustain the outside shooting.

Highland held the visitors without a point in the fourth quarter until an uncontested 3 was made with 3 seconds left.

Alyssa Brase added eight points for Highland and Abbie Miller scored five.

'I think having a girl like Abbie that rebounds hard and a girl like Alyssa right there with her really helps us out,” Fink said.

Highland has an 8-2 record and returns to Southeast Iowa Super Conference play Friday, hosting IMS. English Valleys has a 2-6 record.

No. 4 New London 67, Highland 47

In a Southeast Iowa Super Conference non-divisional boys game at New London, the Huskies lost for just the second time in eight games.

Mason McFarland led the Huskies with 12 points.

Highland returns to North Division play Friday when it hosts Iowa Mennonite School (4-2).

Class 1A's No. 4 New London is 7-0.