McIntyre’s 2,500th career point thrilling moment for her, coach
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Times-Journal Correspondent
Last Friday was Haley McIntyre’s special night.
It wasn’t because Meadowview Christian School beat Autauga Academy 52-40.
It wasn’t even because the MCS senior forward scored 38 points or pulled down 11 rebounds. It wasn’t even because she was 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.
What made this night so special for McIntyre came one minute, 37 seconds into the second half, when she scored the 2,500th career point.
“I realized I had gotten it when they stopped the game,” McIntyre said. “I kind of knew I was in the ballpark, but I didn’t know exactly how close I was.”
When the ball fell through the hoop for the landmark point, game officials blew their whistles and immediately stopped action.
“My only thought was, ‘I didn’t foul. I didn’t foul,'” McIntyre said.
The milestone was the end of a road long traveled by both McIntyre and her coach, Mike Cassebaum, who had hoped to honor his star player with a halftime ceremony. The plans, however, didn’t go as planned – at least not in that particular way.
However, Cassebaum did get his wish of having McIntyre get her 2,500th point at MCS.
“We were trying to make sure she got the point at home,” the Lady Trojans coach said. “We knew she needed 62 points in her last two home games to get there.
“I knew she would eventually get her 2,500th point,” Cassebaum added. “I was kind of worried if she would get it at home.”
Cassebaum’s worry turned to anticipation when she scored a career-high 41 points against South Montgomery last Thursday, just one day prior to scoring her monumental point.
Everyone knew McIntyre was coming close to the magical total. Even the officials were in on the secret.
In fact, the only person not in the know was Haley.
When asked how it felt to score, Haley’s usually serious game face lit up with a huge smile.
“Indescribable,” she said.
McIntyre was given a basketball signed by her teammates to mark the occasion in a ceremony held at mid-court.
McIntyre credited her teammates for helping her reach the milestone.
“She is really just a humble person,” Cassebaum said.
“As good a player as she is, she is a better person and student. All she wants to do is win, even if she only scores five points.”
McIntyre and her parents Bryan and Lisa McIntyre, have their eyes on several colleges, including Troy University, Columbus State
and Judson College.
Judson is Bryan McIntyre’s choice so he can continue to attend every game and be Haley’s official statistician. But the college recruiting season does not even begin until basketball season is over.
When asked if Haley could hit 3,000 points, her father just smiled and shook his head. McIntyre would have to average 34 points a game for the remainder of the season.
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