The stage was set for Addi Hovey Thursday night and the Hart junior basketball standout delivered — for her team and for herself.
The 5-foot-11 all-state wing helped rally the Pirates and she achieved a special milestone in the process.
Hart defeated host Wyoming Potter’s House Christian, 54-47, as Hovey reached the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Trailing 43-39 with 6:30 remaining in the game, Hart embarked on a strong two-minute run. It started with Abby Hicks getting in the lane and kicking out to Reese Smith for a corner 3-pointer. On the next Pirates possession, Rilynn Porter found Hovey, who was fouled in the post and split a pair of free throws to tie it.
On the ensuing Hart possession, Hovey stole the ball and scored on a driving layup to give her team the lead and pusher her over the 1,000-point mark in her three-year varsity career.
“The fourth quarter was our best quarter of the game as the team seemed to be playing with intensity and energy,” Hart coach Travis Rosema said.
“Addi is the third girls basketball player to accomplish this (1,000-point) feat. Landyn Lorenz and Amy Pickard Contreras are the others who have achieved this previously. Oddly enough, all three — Addi, Landyn, and Amy — are all left handed players.”
In a unique twist, Anyieth Nhial of Potter’s House also reached the 1,000-point milestone. The 5-9 senior wing is the first to achieve the milestone in the history of the Potter’s House girls program.
According to a report by WZZM, Nhial was just short of 1,000 points in the closing seconds so Rosema called a timeout and called off his defense. He told WZZM that he wanted Nhial to reach the milestone on her home court in front of the student section, and she delivered with a shot at the buzzer.
Hovey finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Reese led Hart with 17 points — 10 in the third quarter — to lead Hart. Rilynn Porter totaled 11 points, three steals, and two assists for the Pirates, while Hicks had 10 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Hart, which advanced to the Division 3 state semifinals at the Breslin Center last year, closes the regular season with a 17-5 overall record. The Pirates clinched the outright West Michigan Conference Rivers Division title last week and finished with a 12-0 record in the division.
Hart freshman Reese Smith (Courtney Jimison | CatchMark)
