close

Gates scores 1,000th point as Lady Falcons roll

By Rob Burchianti 4 min read
1 / 19
Brownsville’s Skyler Gates sinks a free throw for her 1,000th career point during Friday’s game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville. Gates scored 29 points in the Lady Falcons’ 58-18 win.
2 / 19
Brownsville’s Skyler Gates (left) and Ava Clark hold up a banner noting Gates’ achievement after she reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career Friday against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
3 / 19
Brownsville’s Zhariah Reed (3) comes up with a steal against Jefferson-Morgan during Friday’s game at Brownsville.
4 / 19
Brownsville’s Skyler Gates scores inside against Jefferson-Morgan during Friday’s game at Brownsville. Gates scored 29 points in the Lady Falcons' 58-18 win, including the 1,000th of her career.
5 / 19
Brownsville's Ava Clark attempts a 3-pointer during Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville. Clark scored 16 points in the Lady Falcons' 58-18 win.
6 / 19
Jefferson-Morgan’s Catelynn Teagarden (right) is fouled in the act of shooting by Brownsville’s Alonna Hewitt during Friday’s game at Brownsville.
7 / 19
Brownsville's Skyler Gates posts up and calls for the ball during Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville. Gates scored 29 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Falcons' 58-18 victory.
8 / 19
Jefferson-Morgan's Ava Wood turns up court after coming up with a steal during Friday's game at Brownsville. Wood led the Lady Rockets with seven points. Brownsville won, 59-18.
9 / 19
Brownsville's Amya Wilson (left) and Jefferson-Morgan's Brelyn Wood battle for a loose ball that would end up being called a jump ball during Friday's game at Brownsville.
10 / 19
Brownsville coach Patty Columbia shouts instructions to her players during Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
11 / 19
Jefferson-Morgan coach Rebecca Capozza watches her Lady Rockets play at Brownsville Friday night.
12 / 19
Brownsville's Skyler Gates is congratulated by coach Patty Columbia (left) and teammate Zhariah Reed (3) after scoring her 1,000th career point in Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
13 / 19
Jefferson-Morgan's Leighana Gooden takes a jump shot during Friday's game at Brownsville.
14 / 19
Brownsville's team poses with Skyler Gates (holding basketball) Friday after Gates scored the 1,000th point of her career in a 58-18 win over Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
15 / 19
Brownsville players (from left) Zhariah Reed, Skyler Gates, Ava Clark and Lydia Geary form the numeral 1,000 with their hands to note Gates' 1,000th career point which she scored against Jefferson-Morgan on Friday.
16 / 19
Brownsville's (clockwise from left) Ta'Veonna Harris, Zhariah Reed, Lydia Geary and Ava Clark have some fun with Skyler Gates (14) after she scored her 1,000 point Friday against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
17 / 19
Brownsville's Skyler Gates holds a cookie cake and a balloon given to her after she scored 29 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Falcons' 58-18 win over Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville on Friday.
18 / 19
A board tracking Brownsville junior Skyler Gates' countdown to her 1,000th career point is on display at halftime of Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan. Gates went on to score 29 points in the Lady Falcons' 58-18 win to give her a career total of 1,001. had 18 points at halftime during Friday's game against Jefferson-Morgan at Brownsville.
19 / 19
Veteran offical Pat Lion keeps a close watch on the action during Friday's game at Brownsville between the Lady Falcons and Jefferson-Morgan.

BROWNSVILLE – Brownsville’s Skyler Gates felt a bit uneasy going into Friday’s home game against Jefferson-Morgan.

The 6-foot-4 junior center needed 28 points to reach 1,000 for her career and she knew plenty of people were on hand to witness the possible milestone.

“I was kind of nervous,” Gates said. “Everybody was coming to the game. People were driving like three hours to get here. So I was definitely hoping I could do it for everyone.”

That she did, scoring 29 points in Brownsville’s 58-18 non-section girls basketball victory over the Lady Rockets.

Gates tallied eight points in the first quarter, 10 more in the second and accounted for nine of her team’s first 11 points of the third when she was fouled with 4:57 on the clock.

Gates calmly stepped to the line and swished the first free throw for her 1,000th point. After being congratulated by teammates and head coach Patty Columbia, she made the second free throw as well, capping her scoring for the game at 29 points and upping her career total to 1,001.

“I kind of wanted to do it with a 3 or a dunk but a free throw was alright,” Gates said jokingly.

“When the ball went in it was just like so many emotions were happening at once.”

Ava Clark added 16 points for Brownsville (12-8) and Zhariah Reed chipped in with eight points. Gates also had 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal, Lydia Geary grabbed eight rebounds and Ciara Horabik hit a 3-pointer.

“It feels amazing, especially to be able to do it my junior year,” Gates said of reaching 1,000 points. “It’s so awesome. I’m so happy, so excited. I needed 28 but I was confident I could get it because my teammates, we love each other, and I knew they’d be looking for me tonight.”

That was the plan, according to Columbia.

“I was very proud of the girls because they took a very unselfish approach,” Columbia said. “We talked in the locker room before the game and said let’s feed Skyler as much as we can and get the win, and that’s what they did from the very beginning.”

The Lady Falcons scored the first nine points of the game with six from Gates and three from Clark and were never threatened after that. They led 18-7 after the first quarter with Ava Wood accounting for all of the Lady Rockets’ points in the frame, including a 3-pointer.

Brownsville blanked J-M in the second quarter while pouring in 18 for a commanding 36-7 halftime lead. The hosts outscored the Lady Rockets 15-4 in the third quarter to go up 51-11 and both teams put up seven points in the fourth.

Wood’s seven points led Jefferson-Morgan. Brelyn Wood added five points with a 3-pointer and Krissa Snyder had four points.

Columbia lauded Gates.

“What’s amazing to me is this is a girl going to UVA (University of Virginia) on a volleyball scholarship,” Columbia said. “Skyler is a great girl. She has a gentle spirit. Her teammates love her and so do her coaches. I was very happy for her tonight. She’s a good team player.

“This is a proud moment for me and I know it is for (assistant coaches) Christina (Clark) and CJ (Gaddis) as well. It was a fun night.”

Columbia has churned out multiple 1,000-point scorers in her 10 years at Brownsville.

“This is my fourth one and the first not named Seto,” Columbia said with a laugh, referring to the trio of sisters, Maris Seto, Allie Seto and Emma Seto, who each also reached the milestone under Columbia. “They’re all very special.”

The Lady Falcons now turn their attention to their quest for a playoff spot for the second year in a row.

Brownsville is 4-6 in Section 3-3A and tied with Washington for fourth place. The Lady Falcons have section games remaining at last-place Charleroi on Monday and second-place Keystone Oaks on Tuesday. The Lady Prexies have section games at third-place McGuffey on Monday and at home against Keystone Oaks on Thursday.

“I would love to get to the playoffs again and win a game this year also,” Gates said.

“We’re pretty darn close,” Columbia said. “This is a good group of girls. I feel as if we underperformed a little bit in the beginning of the season but we’re starting to put it all together now.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today