Langan Tops 1,000 Points

Langan came into the game against Cedar Grove needing only four points but the lady Panthers were loathe to grant her even one. Their highly physical offense boxed her in from the tip-off and it took until almost the end of the first period for Langan to get even one point on the scoreboard. But get it she did, and another three quickly followed. After the game paused to give Langan her well-derserved recognition, she proceeded to add another 16 points to her scoring, as well as 12 rebounds. It wasn’t enough to tip the 46-43 game in Verona’s favor, though it hardly seemed to matter given the magnitude of her accomplishment.

The audience included some people who knew that first hand. Roseann McEvoy, who hit 1,000 points in 1986, sent her brother Jack to the game to represent her. Jennifer Hansen, who was the last 1,000-point girl in 1995, was there in person and for her the moment was particularly poignant: She had been Langan’s basketball coach in middle school, and she sensed her talent event then. At a ceremony for 1,000-point scorers four years ago, with Langan present, Hansen silently dedicated her remarks to the budding player. “It is my hope that many more 1,000-point scorers will walk these halls as proudly as I once did,” Hansen said then. “Perhaps there are a few that are taking the court tonight.”

And perhaps, Saturday morning, the next VHS star was getting her inspiration.

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