Frasure Explodes For 50 Points, Eclipsing 2,000 For Career!
She needed seventeen, she found fifty. North Judson Miss Basketball candidate Lily Frasure went into Thursday Night’s game needing just seventeen points to hit 2,000 for her career. The 5’9 Senior would not take long to hit her mark. With 4:53 remaining in the second quarter, Frasure would come up with one of her game-high four steals on the defensive end of the floor. Everyone in the gym could then see that stone cold look on her face, which she has played with her entire career, as she began to make the journey to the other end of the Bluejays Nest. Knifing her way between two Warrior defenders, Frasure laid the ball over the front of the rim, off the glass, then watched it fall through the net, and into history! The Senior flashed a million dollar smile as her teammates came flying in her direction, with celebratory hugs, high fives, and pats on the back. As Athletic Director Mike Sharkozy walked out onto the court to present Frasure with the game ball, field announcer Nathan Radtke announced the achievement to the crowd, pointing out Frasure becoming only the second Bluejay basketball player in history to eclipse 2,000 points in her career, joining 1988 graduate Deb Bolen, whose record of 2,421 points still ranks twelfth on Indiana’s All-Time scoring list.
Frasure would catch fire from behind the three-point line without cooling off much throughout the game. When I say behind the three-point line, I’m talking legitimately at the volleyball line for multiple successful made three-point shots, as she would knock down a school record twelve three pointers throughout the game!
“It’s not like she was on the line shooting threes” Winamac Head Coach Kole Kroft said following the game. “She was five feet beyond and honestly, she wasn’t forcing her shot. She was passing and I mean that’s something special. At some point you start smiling and think ‘good for her’. She’s a class act”.
The scoring outburst would not only come from beyond the three-point line as Frasure would also have a good night at the free-throw line, knocking down six out of six attempts, while adding three two-point field goals as well. Despite her incredible individual accomplishments in the game, Lily was not willing to take all of the credit for her performance.
“Always the key to everything I’ve ever accomplished is definitely my teammates, the coaching staff, my amazing community. All the credit goes to all of them. They’re amazing!” Frasure continued, “All my energy came from everyone here. The community, my teammates were helping me out, they’re all incredible”.
After scoring an impressive sixteen first half points, the party truly got started in the second half when the Miss Basketball candidate caught fire from deep…..DEEP in the backcourt, hitting nine of her twelve three-point shots in the third and fourth quarters. To top it all off, it was not just the scoring column where Lily would make her mark. Frasure also got the job done in the rebounding category as she led the Lady ‘Jays with nine. Defensively, she was on top of things as well, amassing a game-high four steals in the big win.
“If there was anybody more deserving than this, I would call you a liar” North Judson Head Coach Chris Newbauer said following the game. “Lillian is one of the most down to earth, unselfish people ever. I mean she had a wide open layup there at the end, and dumped it off to Liv (Burkett). I mean, she didn’t miss!” Newbauer said with a chuckle. “Without her we’re not nearly as good, not just because of how good she is, but how good she makes other people”.
The second greatest moment of the night, after the 2,000th point, would come from the Winamac Lady Warriors. After Lily had run the game ball up the home-side bleachers to her family, she returned to the court where she would be met by Winamac Junior Kingsley Kroft, who presented Frasure with a bouquet of flowers, as well as a congratulatory poster made by the Lady Warriors basketball team! The incredible act of sportsmanship by Winamac personified what we have always believed about our area’s student athletes. They understand that while winning is important, having respect for others and always displaying great sportsmanship is even more important.
Not surprisingly, the Starke County Co-Op Play of the Game on WKVI came in the second quarter, when Frasure scored her 2,000th career point, putting her second all-time in boys or girls basketball at North Judson.
Even less surprising, the Ashley Derrickson/Five Star Player of the Game on WKVI went to North Judson Senior Lily Frasure. Lily scored a career-high 50 points, connecting on 12 three-point shots, while hitting 4 two-point shots, and going a perfect six-for-six at the free throw line. In addition to her scoring, Frasure also led the Lady Bluejays in rebounding with 9, and steals with 4.
After her incredible performance, Frasure is now (unofficially) ranked around 44th in total career points in girls basketball for the State of Indiana, with at least five games remaining for the Lady Bluejays in the season!
Game Statistics
Scoring
NJSP(76): Olivia Burkett-10, Adalynn Harper-5, Sophie Frasure-9, Lily Frasure-50, Gabby Boyd-2
Winamac(43): Piper Link-3, Aubrey Gearhart-8, Kingsley Kroft-9, Alyssa Villanueva-6, Maggie Smith-4, Ella Gearhart-5, Kaya Campbell-8
Made 3-Point Shots
NJSP(14): Adalynn Harper-1, Sophie Frasure-1, Lily Frasure-12
Winamac(5): Piper Link-1, Kingsley Kroft-3, Kaya Campbell-1
Free-Throw Shooting
NJSP: 10-10 100%
Winamac: 6-11 54%
Rebounding
NJSP(19): Abby Chambers-2, Olivia Burkett-1, Adalynn Harper-1, Sophie Frasure-6, Lily Frasure-9
Winamac(19): Aubrey Gearhart-2, Kingsley Kroft-3, Alyssa Villanueva-2, Maggie Smith-8, Ella Gearhart-2, Kaya Campbell-1, Hailey Attinger-1
Steals
NJSP(10): Abby Chambers-1, Gabby Boyd-1, Adalynn Harper-1, Sophie Frasure-2, Lily Frasure-4, Morgan Hensley-1
Winamac(1): Maggie Smith-1
*Scoring Statistics In This Article Provided By North Judson-San Pierre High School. All Other Statistical Information Provided By Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Staff And Are Not To Be Considered Official Statistics*
