McNair passes 1,000 point scoring mark

    It’s a benchmark that many good basketball players hope to reach.
    Chase County senior Mallie McNair did that Friday night when her 16 points scored against Wauneta-Palisade put her over the 1,000 point career scoring mark.
    Heading into her final year of high school basketball, McNair had already tallied 966 career points in three previous seasons.
    The 25 points scored against Cozad in last Thursday’s opener put her at 991, then the 16 on Friday put her over the top. That 1,000th point came in the third quarter.
    Now with 1,007 points, fans will be watching as she nears the 40-year-old school record at Chase County for girls’ career scoring.
    Cathy Weir holds the record with 1,116 points scored during the 1975-79 seasons.
    Randy Longoria, who’s getting his first experience with her this season as Chase County’s new head girls’ coach, said reaching 1,000 points is a huge milestone for a high school player.
    “She’s exceptional,” he said this week.
    “Not everyone can play at the aggressive pace at which she plays,” he said.
    “That’s the difference between good and great, and she’s great.”
    What’s unique about McNair, he said, and all great players is they have the combination of athleticism, skill and a high motor.
    “She’s extremely athletic, but not all athletic kids have the basketball skills she has,” he said.
    Her coach said McNair is in a very small group of three or four players that he’s coached over 26 years who have had D1 collegiate level skills.
    In a radio interview after Friday’s game, McNair credited her dad, Alex, for pushing her “to be the player she is today,” as well as club basketball for contributing to her development.