Lucas joins the 1,000-point club at GA

When Maggie Lucas took the floor last Saturday against the Peddie School in Germantown Academy's annual Make-A-Wish Tournament, she wasn't able to see the balloons that coach Sherri Retif had hidden.

The ballons were in anticipation of the junior guard's reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career. Lucas didn't disappoint as she scored 18 points (she needed two) to lead the Patriots to a 60-51 win. It was the Pats' fourth straight win of the season.

"My dad and Coach Retiff had told me earlier I was getting close, but I had no idea what game it would happen in," said the 5-foot-8 Lucas, who has orally committed to Penn State. "I knew the Peddie game would be an intense game."

Lucas is the 25th player (boy or girl) to reach 1,000 points at Germantown Academy. Laura Kurz, a 2004 graduate, leads all scorers with 2,247 points. She is followed by Joanna Rhoads ('03) with 1,713 points. Alvin Williams ('93) is the top male on the list, at 1,706.

Although Lucas may not catch Kurz, she should move up quite high on the all-time list, given that she has nearly two full seasons to play. Lucas is highly rated by several Web sites including ESPN Gurlz Hoops.

Retif said she intentionally did not tell Lucas and most of her teammates before the game how close Lucas was to the 1,000 points.

"Usually I tell tell the teammates before the game. This time I only told Alexa Gallagher, who's on the bench because of an injury, letting her know where the balloons were in the back," Retif said.

Speaking of the Patriots, they will celebrate New Year's in Florida, where they have been invited to play in the Naples Sports Foundation Holiday Shootout.

The 16-team field includes host Barron Collier, the top ranked high school team in the state, other Florida teams, and several from outside the state. Each team will play at least three games.

"This time they've invited past champions back," Retif said. "We're not a past champion, so it was very nice of them to invite us."

GA opens play Dec. 31.

Emily Homan isn't sure how tall she is, but it doesn't bother her. "I've been listed at 6-3, but I usually tell people 6-2," said the Delaware County Christian post player.

In any case, Homan is certainly one of the taller girls' high school players in the area.

As a freshman last year, Homan eventually worked her way into the starting lineup, in which she played alongside sister Sarah. Sarah was also listed at 6-3 and is now a freshman at Rider.

Homan has helped lead the Knights to wins in four of their first five games this season. They are playing their first season in the Bicentennial Athletic League after playing an independent schedule last season.

In a 48-37 league win over Calvary Christian on Dec. 11, Homan scored 32 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and blocked 7 shots.

"She's a quality ballplayer," Knights coach Don Tutton said. "She's an AAU player, and she's improving all the time."