Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊAfter Tuesday night's 56-41 win over Manchester, Triton girls basketball coach Mark Heeter approached the scorer's table and made an unusual request.
He asked for the game ball. And without hesitation, Manchester rounded up the ball and handed it to him.
You see, Heeter was picking up a piece of history for Triton senior Ashli Senff. At the 2:50 mark in the third quarter of Tuesday night's game, Senff grabbed a steal and hit a simple layup to break the career scoring mark of 1,563 points set by Lorea Feldman in 1984.
"Ashli needed 21 points to break Lorea Feldman's record," said Heeter. "We had hoped she could do it at home on senior night Saturday, but things didn't work out that way. It's great either way. ."
But until the third quarter, it didn't look like it was going to be Senff's night to shine. After the first two quarters of play, Senff had just seven points on a 2-of-7 shooting performance with two free throws. Things started looking up for the 5-foot-8 Trojan sparkplug when she hit a basket at the 5:38 mark in the third frame. She followed that basket with a three-pointer at the 5:00 mark.
But Senff really kicked into gear at the 3:23 mark. That's when she started a 9-0 one-person run that saw her hit four baskets and a free throw and pick up three steals in a matter of just 33 seconds.
In all, Senff scored 29 points on an 11-of-16 shooting performance. She hit five charity baskets and two three pointers on her way to making history. She also pulled down six rebounds and grabbed six steals in the game.
"Triton has one extremely talented player," said Manchester coach Mark Underwood. "She was the difference in the game. We couldn't overcome her 29 points."
When Senff emerged from the lockerroom after the game, the small crowd of Triton faithful and a few Manchester fans still left in the gym greeted her with applause, whistles and shouts of congratulations. A smile lit the humble Trojan's face as she waved to them and greeted her family with hugs.
Then Heeter walked over and handed her the game ball she has earned with four years of hard work.
