Shared milestone: Waynesburg’s Miller credits team after hitting 1,000-point mark
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Clara Paige Miler (33) poses with teammates, cheerleaders and fans after scoring her 1,000th career point against Washington during Monday night鈥檚 game in Waynesburg.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller holds the ball she scored her 1,000th career point with while her teammates display a banner noting her accomplishment on Monday night following a 59-20 victory over Washington in Waynesburg.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller dribbles the ball during Monday night鈥檚 game against Washington in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 win.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller sinks a free throw against Washington during Monday night鈥檚 game in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 victory.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Nina Sarra puts up a shot in the lane during Monday night鈥檚 game against Washington in Waynesburg. Sarra scored 10 points in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 win.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Kaley Rohanna passes the ball during Monday night鈥檚 game against Washington in Waynesburg. Rohanna scored a game-high 20 points in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 win.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Brenna Benke brings the ball up court during Monday night鈥檚 game against Washington in Waynesburg.
Waynesburg Central's Mya Smith scores against Washington during Monday night's game in Waynesburg.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller receives a hug from assistant coach Natalie Blair after scoring her 1,000th career point during Monday night鈥檚 game against Washington in Waynesburg.
Waynesburg Central's Nina Sarra scans the defense during Monday night's game against Washington in Waynesburg.
Waynesburg Central's Clara Paige Miller holds the ball she scored her 1,000th career point with while posing with her brother Drew Miller (left) and her father Bryan Miller after Monday night's game against Washington in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points in the Lady Raiders' 59-20 win.
Waynesburg Central's Nina Sarra heads up court after coming up with a steal against Washington during Monday night's game in Waynesburg.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller (33) puts up a shot inside against Washington during Monday night鈥檚 game in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 victory.
Waynesburg Central girls basketball coach Dave Sarra breaks the huddle after a timeout in Monday's night game against Washington in Waynesburg.
Waynesburg Central's Clara Paige Miller (33) celebrates with her team after scoring the 1,000 point of her career in the second quarter of Monday night's game against Washington in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points in the Lady Raiders' 59-20 win.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Clara Paige Miller hits a 3-pointer against Washington during Monday night鈥檚 game in Waynesburg. Miller scored 19 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 victory.
WAYNESBURG 鈥� When Waynesburg Central senior Clara Paige Miller grabbed an offensive rebound and put in the bucket that gave her 1,000 career points on Monday night, her first thought wasn鈥檛 about herself.
鈥淢y whole team has worked so hard for this and it just feels like it鈥檚 not even real,鈥� Miller said聽after her 19-point performance in the Lady Raiders鈥� 59-20 Section 3-AAA victory over visiting Washington.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a team accomplishment. My teammates push me everyday in practice. They鈥檙e the most supportive friends I鈥檝e ever had.鈥�
It seemed only fitting that it was Nina Sarra whose 3-point attempt rattled out only for Miller to grab the ball and score her milestone points to put her team up 30-9 with 3:49 left in the second quarter.
Miller sought out Sarra first and the two exchanged a big hug as the game was stopped to observe the special moment.
鈥淣ina鈥檚 been my bestfriend since third grade,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for her.鈥�
Sarra, the daughter of Waynesburg coach Dave Sarra, was happy to share in the moment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just remarkable,鈥� Sarra said of Miller. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been my bestfriend since Little Dribblers. My dad has been her coach for as long as I can remember. She鈥檚 grown so much. I鈥檓 so proud of her.鈥�
The victory improved the Lady Raiders鈥� record to 3-1 in the section and 7-3 overall. Kaley Rohanna scored a game-high 20 points to lead the hosts and Sarra added 10 points. Both players hit a pair of 3-pointers.
Miller struggled offensively in the opening period but her team didn鈥檛.
Nina Sarra opened the scoring with a 3-pointer as the Lady Raiders never trailed.
After the Prexies鈥� Cayleigh Brown made one of two free throws, Waynesburg went on a 19-point run that included 12 points by Rohanna, another 3-pointer by Sarra, a jump shot by Colleen Lemley and one point each from Miller and Emily Bennett.
Nevaeh King made a late 3-pointer to pull Washington within 22-4 after one quarter.
Miller finally hit her stride in the second quarter. A pair of free throws and a basket inside put her two points away before her offensive board and bucket gave her exactly 1,000 points.
鈥淚 told her at the beginning of the game you scored seven points numerous time, just try to get them in the flow of the game,鈥� Dave Sarra said. 鈥淓arly on she was having a bit of a tough time but we said OK let鈥檚 get her the ball in the post and get her some easy looks. Then once she got comfortable, everything started clicking for her.鈥�
The home crowd erupted after the milestone basket and Miller received hugs and congratulations from her teammates and coaches before going up in the stands to hug her brother Drew Miller and father Bryan Miller as she presented them with the basketball.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here without them,鈥� Millelr said. 鈥淭hey pushed me through some really hard times. My brother has always been my No. 1 supporter.
鈥淚t was such a relief.聽It鈥檚 so crazy to do it in front of my home crowd. They鈥檙e so supportive. It鈥檚 such an honor.鈥�
Miller scored 12 points in the second quarter while Rohanna had 10 and Nina Sarra added two as Waynesburg took a commanding 42-10 halftime lead.
Dave Sarra substituted liberally in the second half
Miller ended her night with seven field goals, including a 3-pointer, and a four-of-six showing from the foul line. She commended her coaches 鈥� Dave Sarra and assistants Natalie Blair and Toby Fancher 鈥� after the game.
鈥淒ave and Natalie and Toby are the most influential people in my life besides my parents,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淒ave definitely gives tough love all the time but I wouldn鈥檛 trade my coaches for anything.鈥�
Dave Sarra applauded his star senior.
鈥淚t鈥檚 special,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e started coaching her probably in like third or fourth grade. I鈥檓 just happy for her. She鈥檚 worked hard. She鈥檚 earned it.鈥�
As for the team, the Lady Raiders have had to adjust after losing an important member of their starting lineup early in the season.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e coming into our own,鈥� Dave Sarra said. 鈥淲e had one key injury in the second game of the year, sophomore Josie Horne hurt her knee, and we鈥檙e not going to get her back. She was one of our starters and was really important to us so everyone鈥檚 trying to find their own roles now.鈥�
Horne鈥檚 play was instrumental in the Lady Raiders going 13-6, including a WPIAL playoff win, last season. The forward鈥檚 strong inside play allowed Miller to have more freedom offensively.
鈥淭he more games we play we鈥檙e starting to figure out who can be in what role and when to get them in the game,鈥� Dave Sarra said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e got a nice mix of seniors and sophomores. It鈥檚 one game at a time and don鈥檛 overlook anybody.鈥�
Brown led Washington (0-5, 1-9) in scoring with seven points and Delanie Calisle followed with six points.