Emm-azing!
Larkin sets Geibel Catholic scoring record in win over Southmoreland
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. 鈥� Nothing could stop Emma Larkin from setting the all-time scoring record at Geibel Catholic High School on Monday night at 鈥淭he Swamp鈥� on the campus of Geibel Catholic Junior/Senior High School.
Not a box-and-one defense that Southmoreland threw at her. Not a lingering cold that left her fatigued. Not the pressure of breaking a record that stood for 33 years.
Larkin entered the non-section contest with the Lady Scotties needing 11 points to tie Shelley Bortz, who scored 1,977 career points while playing for the Lady Gators in the 1991-92 season.
Larkin鈥檚 outside shot was not falling early on, but with 3:31 remaining in the second quarter, the senior and Division II Belmont Abbey College commit, took a step-back three-pointer from the far corner that hit nothing but the bottom of the net to surpass Bortz with 1,978 career points.
The game was stopped and Larkin was presented with a banner and game ball for breaking the record.
鈥淲hen I made the three, I didn鈥檛 even realize I had the record,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚 thought it was for a sub, then everybody started clapping, and I was like, 鈥極h, I got it.'鈥�
Geibel went on to earn a 70-27 victory to improve to 3-0 this season.
Larkin scored 26 points on nine field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 6 of 12 at the foul line.
Larkin has stated that she never imagined she would be her school鈥檚 all-time leading scorer, but her illness put a little bit of a damper on passing Bortz.
鈥淚 have been sick for 10 days now, so at this point, I am completely over it, and I was completely discouraged coming into this game because I wanted to enjoy it, and I鈥檓 sick,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚t makes me angry when I miss free throws because that鈥檚 what they are 鈥� free, and I get to the foul line a lot, so that needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed quickly.鈥�
Larkin has 1,992 career points, which puts her in good position to score her 2,000th on Thursday when the Lady Gators host Steel Valley (0-2) at 7 p.m., but her goal is to do whatever she can to help her team win.
鈥淚 will go into this next game with the same mindset as tonight,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淎lso, I would trade all of these points in for the opportunity to win a championship. I also want to thank my teammates because without them, I am not up here talking about what I accomplished. They all played great tonight, and even when they played the box-and-one, my teammates stepped up and got the job done.鈥�
The night was Larkin鈥檚 but sophomore Mallory Clemmer was a force inside, as she matched Larkin for high-game scoring honors with 26 points. Clemmer made 12 field goals and was 2 of 3 at the foul line. She also pulled down 21 rebounds.
Sara Larkin, who is not only Emma鈥檚 coach, but her mother, was proud of her daughter鈥檚 accomplishment, and also pointed out Clemmer鈥檚 play, which will be instrumental in Geibel鈥檚 success this season.
鈥淟ook at Mal, she came to play today,鈥� Sara Larkin said. 鈥淭hey can use the box-and-one, but I have four other kids on the floor that can put the ball in the hoop. Emma was sick today, but she was able to push through and get the scoring record.鈥�
Janiah Darnell had 14 points on seven field goals and Alexa Morgan finished with four points on two field goals for the Lady Gators. Clemmer and Larkin left the game with roughly two minutes to go, which allowed Coach Larkin to insert two of her substitutes.
鈥淭hat kid (Janiah), is a hustler,鈥� Sara Larkin said. 鈥淪he cleans up underneath, and is a great defender, too. Janiah compliments us well. Alexa can run the point, so we need to get the experience out there.鈥�
Ava Keefer led Southmoreland (0-1) in scoring with 11 points on five field goals (1 three-pointer).
鈥淚 was pleased with our effort,鈥� Southmoreland coach Barry Collins said. 鈥淥ur kids didn鈥檛 have the deer in the headlights look. It was a good atmosphere for them to start the season. We have to get some of the younger girls up to speed.鈥�
Geibel jumped out early and built up a 10-2 lead, as Clemmer and Darnell took advantage of the box-and-one in scoring eight of the first 10 points. Larkin scored on a layup.
The Lady Gators extended their advantage to 17-6, which prompted Collins to take a timeout, but the home team scored the next six points of the first quarter for a 23-6 lead.
Geibel outscored the visitors, 23-9, in the second period for a 46-15 halftime advantage and a running clock in the second half. The Lady Gators won the third quarter, 11-2, and the fourth, 13-10.