Danley joins 1,000 point club as Holcomb defeats Senath-Hornersville

Holcomb High School senior Kaetlyn Danley made a bit of history as she surpassed 1,000 career points with the Lady Hornets basketball team Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Danley's accomplishment came as she scored a game-high 32 points in Holcomb's 66-61 win over Senath-Hornersville on the road.

“It's exciting and relieving, because I've been wanting to do this since I was a freshman,” Danley said. “I haven't really looked at how many points I had. It caught me off guard, but when I looked around and everyone started screaming I realized I got it.”

Holcomb girls basketball players congratulate Kaetlyn Danley on 1,000 career points after a game against Senath-Hornersville Friday.Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

As the action started and Danley inched closer to the 27 points she needed to hit 1,000, Holcomb and Senath-Hornersville remained neck-and-neck through the entirety of the first half. Danley, along with junior Ava Gurley – the only two upperclassmen and players with prior varsity experience on Holcomb's roster this season – powered the Hornets offense.

“Kaetlyn is our predominant scorer this year, but for the last couple of years I've been talking to her about being a leader in addition to just being a scorer,” Holcomb coach Alexa Stockton said. “This year she's really stepped up, even as a vocal leader to these girls.”

The first quarter ended with Holcomb on top 15-12, and the lead changed hands as Senath-Hornersville's Jada Burlison sank back-to-back three-pointers early in the second quarter. As she put in her third of the game, the Lady Lions took a 25-19 advantage that was cut short as Gurley put in one of her own.

Senath-Hornersville's Halle Jamerson (22) takes a shot during Friday's game against Holcomb.Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

After a tie, then Danley making a layup and taking a trip to the free throw line, Holcomb managed to hold on to the lead at halftime 34-32.

“I felt like we got off to a slow start and we didn't shoot as well as we typically do,” Stockton said. “We didn't finish under the basket like we normally do, and our free throws are normally what keeps us in a game but tonight they killed us.”

After the break the lead immediately swapped once more as Senath-Hornersville's Jameelet Maroquin kicked off the second half by sinking one of her two three-pointers of the game. With the exception of a three-point shot by Gurley, Danley solely kept pace and put in 11 points in the third, but Senath-Hornersville came out of the third quarter on top by one point, 49-48.

By the end of the third, Danley had made 26 of the 27 points needed. More Hornet players gained traction but Senath-Hornersville kept up and maintained the lead. With just over four minutes left, Danley stepped back in the paint and took a contested shot that landed. She was fouled, made the free throw and scored her 1,000th and 1,001st points at once – and it gave Holcomb the lead through the rest of the game.

The Lady Lions tied it once more and came close, but a late, chaotic series of fouls and frees took Holcomb to victory.

“Senath always has a very scrappy team and every time we come down here you have to fight and claw to win,” Stockton said. “It's a tough place to play, because they always have a good crowd, they're energetic and they always have good shooters.”

After Danley's 32 points, Gurley scored 20, Landynn Hodges scored 10, Gabi Harmon added three and Katelynn Sweaney added one. For Senath-Hornersville, Jada Burlison scored 20 points, Halle Jamerson scored 12, Kaya Horton added 11, Lyvana Reyes-Lopez scored seven and Jameelet Maroquin contributed six.

Holcomb (8-5) hosts Portageville tonight and travels to Campbell Thursday. Senath-Hornersville (3-7) hosts Malden Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.