Girls Basketball: Ireland’s 1,000th point is reason to celebrate at Garnet Valley

CONCORD >> Each time Maddie Ireland shot the ball during the fourth period of Garnet Valley’s 45-27 victory over West Chester Henderson in the championship game of the Garnet Valley Varsity Club Holiday Invitational Tuesday night, a hush fell over the crowd. Thirteen times, the hush was followed by a groan of disappointment as Ireland missed 12 field goal attempts and one free throw during those eight minutes of playing time. Finally, 21.4 seconds before the horn sounded signaling the end of the contest, an Ireland shot prompted prolonged applause from those in the stands — and a sigh of relief from the 5-5 senior captain.

Ireland had made a free throw with 1:55 to play to bring her career points total to 999. She had a number of attempts to reach the 1,000-point mark before her last shot of the game fell through, making her GV’s sixth female 1,000-point scorer. She joins former Jaguars Christy Yarnell (1,305), Cecily Scavicchio (1,291), Amy Tarr (1,221), Coley Ricci (1,201) and Carole Sperone 1,047) in the century club. Ricci, a University of Delaware lacrosse player, was among those in the stands cheering for Ireland.

“I was dribbling down and I guess I missed a shot or lost the ball,” Ireland said of her magic moment. “The other girl hit the ball and it came right back to me and I went in and scored.”

The other girl was Henderson junior Emma Bertrando, who ended up with seven points, five rebounds and one assist for the Warriors and provided a lot of help on Ireland’s big basket. Bertrando’s father, Dr. Marc Bertrando, became superintendent of schools at Garnet Valley three years ago.

“It was such a big relief to have that shot go in,” Ireland said. “I wasn’t nervous all day. I was making my shots in warmups. Then the game started, and I really started struggling.”

Ireland (16 points, four steals, two assists), who was named most valuable player of the tournament, was 2-for-5 from the floor in the first half, scoring five points. Garnet Valley, which didn’t allow a field goal until the third minute of the second period, led by 12 points at the break.

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Garnet Valley’s Maddie Ireland drives through the lane en route to her 16 points to eclipse 1,000 career in a 45-27 win over Henderson Tuesday. (Times Staff/Robert J. Gurecki)