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It
was this bucket with 3:59 remaining in the first half of the Lady
Patriots game with Mississinawa
Valley Thursday that propelled Patriot
senior Kayla Linkous onto a list that until now had been
occupied by
just two other people. Linkous joined the 2,000 point scored, 1,000
rebound club in the
state of Ohio. CNO Photo by George Starks
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Linkous steps into
immortality
T-V overwhelms MV
By George Starks
NEW MADISON - With 3:59 remaining in the first half, the magical moment
happened. Tri-Village Lady Patriot Kayla Linkous did what most can only
imagine. Not only did the Patriot senior score but she scored the two
biggest points of her high school career.
At that moment, Linkous dropped in her 11th point of the night and her
2,000th point of her career. At that point, she crossed over into
immortality. Not only did she score that 2,000th point, she added that
to the already 1,000 rebounds she had amassed, making her just the
third girl in the state of Ohio to pull off this feat.
“I really don’t know what to say about this,” Linkous said after the
game. “I’m glad it got done with this team.”
It all happened on senior night for Linkous, the lone senior for the
Lady Patriots. With friends, family and a ton of press on hand for the
event, the spotlight was bright and unsettling.
“I was nervous,” Linkous admitted. “I was trying to play my normal game
and just play my hardest. Being in the record book is nice but we got
the win tonight and that’s what we wanted.”
Even though Linkous was going to cross a line done by only two others,
she wasn’t thinking just of herself.
“I was trying not to really think about this,” Linkous admitted. “I was
thinking about getting Coach Grey his 100th win of his career. I really
don’t think this day could have been any better. Coach got his win, the
team got a win and I am glad it’s over for me. I’m glad it’s behind me.
Now I can concentrate on starting the tournament.”
When the 2,000th point dropped through, the game was stopped and
Linkous was recognized for her accomplishment.
“I handed the ball to my Mom (Christi Sarver) and she hugged me and
told me she loved me,” Linkous said. “Then I hugged my Dad (Randy) and
he told me to go out and finish the game. But it’s not about me; it’s
all about the team.”
“This was a fun night,” said Grey after the game. “I don’t remember a
night as electric as this one. This was just a real special night for
Kayla. I couldn’t be happier for her. I don’t think she realizes what
she has done yet and she may not realize it anytime soon. One day, she
will know how big this night was and what she did.”
Even though Grey got win 100 of his career, he put things into
perspective.
“If Kayla scores her points and we lose the game, then this night would
have meant nothing to her,” said Grey. “On the other hand if we win and
she doesn’t get her points, she’s happy with that. That‘s just the kind
of kid she is. It‘s never been about the points and rebounds. It‘s
about the team and winning the game. To her, 2,000 is just another
number.
“I got my 100th win because of my players. I didn’t win them they did.
I’ve had some great players over the years. Just look at the team I
have now.”
To do what Linkous has done is hard to fathom for Grey.
“Its mind boggling,” said Grey. “I told her she really doesn’t
understand what she’s accomplished. I don’t think I understand what she
has accomplished myself.”
Linkous joins Kayla Chones and Tamika Williams. Chones attended
Eastlake North High School from 1995-1999, finishing with 2,044 points
and 1690 rebounds. Williams, a graduate of Dayton Chaminade-Juillenne
(1994-1998) scored 2,015 points and collected 1169 rebounds. Williams
also went on to play in the WNBA after college.
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Tri-Village
senior Kayla Linkous scores two of her game high 23 points
Thursday as Tri-Village topped
Mississinawa Valley. On this night,
Linklos joined a very elite group in Ohio Sports history. A group that
consisted of only two other girls until the Lady Patriot notched her
name in that book. Also, Patriots coach
Brad Grey won his 100th game as
a varsity coach in Patriot Nation. It was a night of milestones for
Linkous and Grey. CNO Photo by George Starks
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