Sports
Stars' Laura Margarit Scores 1,000th Point
In a home game against Burnsville Tuesday night, senior Laura Margarit hits her 1,000th point as a Stars varsity player.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd of her friends and family, Stars basketball player scored four points to hit her 1,000-point goal as a high school player.
"I achieved something that's mine," she said. "No one can take that away."
With basketball being a part of her life since kindergarten, her dad, Greg Margarit, recalled a time when she was reluctant to play. It wasn't until after second grade that she truly became passionate about the game and now she has hit a huge milestone.
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"[Reaching 1,000 points] is a culmination of all the hard work over the years," he said. "I'm excited for her."
Burnsville's tough defense made it difficult for the Stars to score at all. At the half, the Stars were trailing 10-18 and Margarit, typically a top scorer, had yet to make any baskets.
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Margarit played around the perimeter and with a tough Burnsville defense, it was hard for her to score, she said. However, coach Nathan McGuire took a chance and put her in the middle during the second half, which gave her an opportunity score some points—or at least make it to the free-throw line.
She scored with 13:35 left in the second half and with 10:55 remaining, she headed to the free throw line, where she scored points 16 and 17 for the Stars, and points 999 and 1,000 for herself.
McGuire credits Margarit for playing hard and doing what's needed for the team. While she wasn't a high scorer in this particular game, McGuire mentioned that her defense is what stood out tonight.
"She makes players around her better," he said.
Next year, Margarit will go to the University of St. Thomas, where she'll continue to play basketball. For now, though, she has simple goals for the rest of the season as co-captain of the team.
"We need to keep improving and work together," she said.
After spending most of the game trying to catch up, the Stars ultimately lost to Burnsville, 38-48.
"If anything, there was a great crowd and support from the fans," McGuire said. "I just wish we could've gotten the 'W' for [Margarit]," he said.
