Super Sumpter: LH senior scores 1,000th-career point in Lady Mustangs’ victory
Forty-seven seconds.
That is all it took Ayrianna Sumpter to score the five points she needed to reach the 1,000-point club Monday night in Laurel Highlands’ 73-25 victory over Ringgold in Section 3-4A play at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium.
Sumpter swished a three-pointer to open the scoring and was sent to the foul line with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The senior calmly sank both free throws and joined her teammates and coaches at mid-court to celebrate, as the game was stopped, which has been customary when a player achieves a scoring milestone.
Sumpter is the 11th player in the history of the Laurel Highlands girls basketball program to score 1,000-career points. Candace John is the all-time leading scorer with 1,735 points. Teammate Miya Harris accomplished the feat one week ago at home.
“I have been waiting for so long to get this,” Sumpter said. “With my injury and everything, I just wanted to get it over and done with so we can move on to the playoffs.”
Sumpter needed 16 points for 1,000 heading into last Thursday’s game at Belle Vernon, but fell short of the mark after scoring 11. Sumpter didn’t want the game to stop if she achieved the feat on the road, so she was content with waiting the four days to get the job done.
“All my hard work paid off, and I have something I can look back on from my high school career and be proud of,” Sumpter said. “It was awesome to be able to do it with all my friends and family here at our home gym. It is awesome to be with Miya (Harris) in the 1,000-point club.”
Stewart Davis has observed Sumpter the last three years he has been the head coach of the Lady Mustangs, and he was proud to see her reach 1,000 points.
“We came out a little passive looking for her (Sumpter) in the beginning,” Davis said. “I had to yell at Miya (Harris) to shoot the ball to open Aryianna up, but Aryianna’s a great player. I coached her for three years, and I am definitely going to miss her next season. She’s the spark of the team when we need her. Last year, she held us down the entire season.
“This year, it was a little stressful getting to 1,000. She had an injury earlier in the season, and that set her back a little bit. She is just now starting to get her feet back underneath her, and hopefully we click at the right time and have a good run in the playoffs.”
Davis knew of Sumpter’s desire to reach 1,000-career points at home.
“She came out on fire and she wanted to do it at home,” Davis said. “At Belle Vernon, she had a good game. She probably could have scored more, but the pressure of being away against a good team, she couldn’t get her number, but she definitely wanted to do it at home, and we are happy she did it at home.”
Laurel Highlands (10-3, 15-5) had already built a 5-0 lead when Sumpter scored her 1,000th, and after a brief delay for the celebration, the Lady Mustangs built a 10-0 lead with 5:10 left in the first period.
Laurel Highlands had a 19-0 lead before Jada Gernot made a three-pointer with 2:20 remaining in the period. Gernot led the Lady Rams (1-11, 7-13) in scoring with 10 points.
The Lady Mustangs closed the quarter on a 10-0 run for a 29-3 lead after the first period.
LH outscored the visitors, 25-6, in the second quarter for a 54-9 halftime advantage. The second half was played with a running clock, and the Lady Mustangs were able to unload their bench.
“We started the fourth quarter with the underclassmen who we think are going to return and hopefully start for us next season,” Davis said. “They came out and looked good. They were communicating, moving the ball well and scoring.”
Sumpter shared game-high scoring honors with Harris and Aierra Jenkins, as the trio had 14 points apiece. Jenkins, a junior who had nine rebounds, will join the 1,000-point club next.
Righteous Richardson added 11 for Laurel Highlands.
“I commend these girls for playing team ball these last three years under me and this coaching staff,” Davis said. “We have five players that can score double digits, and that makes it hard to guard us. It also shows when you have two 1,000-point scorers. AJ (Jenkins) is not that far behind for her 1,000 points.”
The Lady Mustangs finish up the regular season on Thursday at Yough (5-7, 11-9) before finding out their seed in the WPIAL playoffs, which can start as early as Feb. 13.
“We hope to tie for second place with South Park and get seeded fifth by the WPIAL so we can get a chance to host a playoff game,” Davis said. “We know that it isn’t going to be easy at Yough because they are fighting for a playoff spot.”