Grand night:
Hopedale's Richards scores 1,000th point

By Jon Japha/Milford Daily News
Saturday, December 28, 2002

HOPEDALE - When Hopedale guard Gina Richards scored her 1,000th career point, she hoped that friend and teammate Emily Patton would get to pass her the ball. Then Patton would be the first one to hug Richards.

Only half of that wish came true last night, as Patton was the first player to hug Richards, though an official got the assist when Richards hit a pair of free throws for points 999 and 1,000 of her career with 7:14 left in the Blue Raiders' 70-39 non-league loss to Ashland.

"I feel so relieved," Richards said. "This is a great feeling. It's awesome."

With 12 points last night and 1,003 in her career, Richards is now the second girl in Hopedale history to score 1,000 points. Cheryl Daudlin, who coached Richards in junior high and AAU, is the other. Daudlin was on hand last night.

So were family and friends from New Hampshire, Northbridge, Milford and Westwood, adding to the pressure Richards felt.

"I was nervous before the game," Richards said. "My shots weren't falling, and I only had four points at halftime."

The tension was obvious not just in Richards, but in the entire team. The senior guard shot 2 for 9 from the field in the first half, while her team went 6 for 27 with seven turnovers.

"There was nervousness on the whole team," coach Jim McCallum said. "Nobody wanted to be the one to cost Gina the 1,000."

Richards' first two hoops came off jumpers from just inside the arc, as the crowd grew louder with each bucket.

Six minutes into the second half, Richards stole the ball from Ashland's Jackie Jenkins near midcourt, made the layup and the ensuing free throw to give her seven on the night, 998 for her career.

Then, with 7:14 to play, she drove the lane and was fouled. With the crowd buzzing, Richards swished the first free throw, then had her second rim around, carom off the backboard and fall through. The game paused for a short ceremony, and the first person hugging Richards was Patton.

"This just couldn't have happened to a nicer girl," McCallum said. "Her shot wasn't there, but she worked her way through it. The crowd was great."

After Patton, the second person Richards embraced was her father, Ernie, to whom she delivered the ball.

"My dad has always been the guy who's helped me and pushed me and got me to work harder," she said, also recognizing her mother's support. "My dad is the one who knows the game and helps me with it."

Richards received flowers and balloons and spent a few minutes with family before the game restarted. And when it did, the darndest thing happened - Richards was able to just play basketball.

"Her body language after the 1,000 just picked up," McCallum said. "There was more flow to her shooting, the monkey was off her back."

Ironically, without having to worry about scoring, Richards was able to score more easily. Though she only played six more minutes - she was replaced to a standing ovation with 1:19 to play - the 3-pointer she hit was her best looking shot of the night.

And with the milestone behind her, Richards is anxious to get back to focusing on winning.

"I really want to make the tournament," Richards said. "We're going to have to start winning."

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Richards makes her point: A win
By Liam Hurley / Correspondent
Saturday, December 21, 2002

HOPEDALE -- Hopedale's Gina Richards could've scored just about as many points as she wanted last night. Instead, she decided that she wanted to make sure her team won.

Richards scored 17 points and dished out 13 assists and teammate Kim Leonard netted 20 as Hopedale defeated North Brookfield 63-50 in Dual Valley Conference play.

Richards, just 26 points away from 1,000 career points to start the night, had plenty of opportunities to shoot the ball on her own, but continually deferred to teammates with better looks at the basket, in what head coach Jim McCallum said was a microcosm of her brilliant career.

"It was a fantastic performance. What more can you say? All of her family is here, it's winter break, we're at home, and she could have had 30 points, two assists and the record, but we would've lost. She is a wonderful team player."

North Brookfield jumped out to a 13-7 lead early in the first half on three consecutive baskets by freshman Lyndsey Bennett. Helped by baskets from Leonard and senior Emily Patton (18 points) and a gorgeous behind-the-back drive and lay-in by Richards, Hopedale went on a 12-2 run to open up a four-point lead with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and at halftime the Blue Raiders led 22-18.

Hopedale went on an 18-6 run to start the second half. Leonard hit one of her four 3-pointers and Patton hit one of her four to propel the burst.

Meanwhile, Richards continued to pass up shots and her bid for 1,000.

"I don't really care that much about the thousand," she said. "I want to get it, obviously, so it will be out of the way, but I would rather win, and today, we did."

North Brookfield had cut the lead to six (46-40) with just more than six minutes remaining, courtesy of four straight free throws by senior point guard Jill Carroll and six more points from Bennett. After a timeout, however, Richards split the defense and passed to Leonard, who buried a 3 and was fouled.

The North Brookfield rally was over and, soon after, a Hopedale victory was secure.

Richards hopes to play next year at either Western New England College or the University of New England but for now, she is just concentrating on Hopedale's next game, Friday against Ashland.

"We're 2-0 right now, and that's what I'm excited about," she said.