DALTON — On a silky 3-pointer from the wing, Frontier Regional’s Addie Harrington surpassed 1,000 career points in a 58-39 win over Wahconah on Wednesday night.
A large contingent of friends, fans and family made the trip to the Berkshires to celebrate the moment. When the shot went through the net, screams echoed throughout Ladley Court.
While the final score seemed lopsided, the Redhawks (7-1, 3-0) were in a Suburban league battle into the third quarter. Harrington’s money shot put the Redhawks ahead 44-31 in the fourth quarter.
“It didn’t feel real,” Harrington said. “I tried not to think about it, so it didn’t mess me up at all. I didn’t want to overthink every shot I took. Overall, I was just playing the game.”
Needing 19 points for 1,000, Harrington ended up with 23 points. Frontier now has won six straight games. There was no count in her brain throughout the game. She knew she had reached 1,000 when she saw everyone jumping.
“It definitely was a big-league win,” Harrington said. “We were pretty evenly-matched record-wise and strength-wise going in. I think our team overall dominated the second half.”
A Whitney Campbell 3-pointer put the game out of reach for Frontier. Campbell’s shot made the score 47-41.
After the milestone shot, there was an embrace with first-year coach David Hastings. Wahconah knew very well that Harrington was close to a milestone. As is the case with Harrington in any game she plays, the defense had a laser focus on her. Harrington did not ignore the defensive end, flying around on that end and only sitting for four seconds of gametime on the bench.
“Anywhere you go there is going to be defensive attention on her,” Hastings said. “She knew that it was going to come down to her just playing through a lot of contact. There’s always a lot of contact but she’s a tough kid. Everything we ask Addie to do, she does. I don’t think she goes away from anything. She can take what’s being dished out. She really showed the toughness tonight.”
Entering the season, Frontier knew the challenges of playing in the Suburban league which requires multiple trips to the Berkshires.
“I thought that our team really showed the type of culture that we are trying to develop here,” Hastings said. “I’ve been talking about that since the beginning of the year about what the culture is we want of the team. The way we come in and play every day…one percent better every day, that’s the goal of the team.”
Entering the third quarter, a big 3-pointer by Harper Modestow put the Redhawks ahead, 31-24. The Wahconah defense then lost Harrington on the low block. The defensive lapse allowed an easy basket for Harrington to make the score 33-24.
Looking very strong in her return from an ACL injury, Modestow scored 12 points. Skyler Steele had 11 points for Frontier. Campbell ended up with eight points for Frontier.
A Campbell 3-pointer gave Frontier an early 21-18 first quarter lead. Harrington’s take at the rim then made the score 21-18 before a Steele basket and a foul. Frontier had a 26-24 lead at halftime.
