Lady Raiders Get Big Win Against Canton, Williams Scores 1000th Career Point

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By Marlana Smith

The North Shelby Lady Raiders earned a 60-54 win against the Canton Lady Tigers in a battle on Friday, January 13, 2023.

Senior Ava Williams scored her 1000th career point at the free-throw line with 19.5 seconds left in the game. Williams led the Lady Raiders with 19 points.

Beginning the game, Williams was 18 points away from her 1000th.

“I am just so proud of her. She is a great leader on the team, a great player and more than that she is great young lady,” said Head Coach Chris Parsons. “You couldn’t be happier for somebody like Ava.”

Parsons said before the game he told the girls he excepted them to have some turn overs because Canton was a feisty team.

“That’s a team that gets up and guards you.

“I didn’t except us to be quite so sloppy at the beginning, but I told the girls, I am proud of the way they fought,” said Parsons.

Within two minutes of the game, Canton’s Kielyn Ott splashed in a 3-pointer. Canton would score four more points before the Lady Raiders got on the board.

Natalie Thrasher got things going with a shot beyond the arch. Williams went to the line with 3:49 on the clock. She was good for two. The Lady Raiders (11-2) trailed 9-5.

Canton took a 14-5 lead within a minute and a half.

Linberger was good for the bucket and drew the foul. She was successful at the line. Williams hit a three with 1:32 left in the quarter.

Ceairra Kirby got the rebound from Linberger’s missed shot and was good for two. The Lady Raiders only trailed 14-13 at the end of the period.

The Lady Tigers had a 24-17 with 4:19 on the clock.

North Shelby’s Meg Shively went to the line and was successful. Thrasher hit a three and NS only trailed by two.

Marissa McEwen’s bucket allowed Canton to have a one-point lead. Williams scored a bucket and then went two-for-two from the charity line tying the game with 1:56 left on the clock.

Thrasher’s success at the free throw line allowed NS to take its first lead of the game.

Thrasher claimed the last five points North Shelby had in the quarter. NS led 34-32 going into halftime.

Williams got things going for North Shelby in the third quarter. With the bucket, Williams was only seven points away from her achievement.

North Shelby took a six-point lead after Linberger hit back-to-back shots.

Canton took back the lead after a bucket and two 3-pointers. They led 42-40.

Canton scored four more points extending their lead.

Thrasher and Shively each scored for North Shelby within 30 seconds. Williams scored with 44.5 seconds left in the third period and then again with 11 seconds on the clock. Canton still had the lead, 50-48.

Williams put in a bucket within 14 seconds into the final quarter.

Linberger was 2-for-2 from the charity line giving NS a two-point lead, 52-50.

Shively was good for a bucket and a foul. She was successful for the 3-point play. NS had a 55-50 advantage.

With 4:53 left in the battle, NS held a one-point lead.

A technical foul by Canton sent Thrasher to the line. She went 1-for-2. NS held a two-point advantage.

With 1:17 on the clock, Thrasher hit a bucket extending North Shelby’s lead by four.

Williams was fouled with 19.5 seconds on the clock. She was only one point away for her 1000th. She went 2-for-2 from the line.

“I am proud of the way they found a way. They believed in each other. We buckled down,” Parsons said.

“We had moments we didn’t rebound very well, but at the end of the game we rebounded when it counted.”