West Newsmagazine 2-21-18

24 I SPORTS I
By WARREN MAYES
February 21, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Principia senior Kate Hinds is the latest
Panther to reach a basketball milestone.
Hinds recently topped 1,000 points in her
four-year career playing for coach Shad
Nichols.
Going into the season, she realized she
had a chance to reach the cherished plateau.
“I knew that I was within reach of 1,000
points but it was not a guaranteed thing,”
Hinds said. “This was the main goal of
mine for the season but I really started
thinking about it this year as being something
that was possible.”
Nichols noted it’s an accomplishment
few reach in their playing days.
“Kate is only the sixth player in the history
of the school to surpass 1,000 points,”
Nichols said. “When she’s done, she should
finish fourth all-time in scoring. One way
to look at this is the fact that Principia has
been playing basketball for over 100 years.
“Scoring 1,000 points really is a lot of
times to put the ball in the basket, which
is not easy to do. I know it’s been a goal of
hers for some time so that in itself makes it
a special accomplishment.”
Caitlyn Demaree was the most recent
Principia player to top 1,000 points when
she did it last season. Alli Ball, who
plays as a senior at the University of
Illinois, passed 1,000 points in 2014.
Hinds is a four-year starter for the
Panthers.
“I have been playing basketball
since fourth grade when coach Nichols
introduced me to it,” Hinds said.
“I love everything about the game.”
She passed the 1,000-point mark
in a recent game against Crossroad
College Prep.
“The basket was a 3-pointer from
the right wing and it was assisted
by my teammate Tessa Boyman,”
Hinds said.
Nichols called it a moment he won’t
soon forget.
“We were winning the game 5-2 and
Kate had not yet scored. She then went on
to score 16 of our next 18 points. That put
her at 1,001, and she had broken the mark
in a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds,”
Nichols said. “It was a remarkable scoring
run that is very rare and was very fun to see
and be a part of.
“In typical Kate fashion, 12 of 16 came
on four made 3-pointers. Many of the
people who had intended to come, watch
and celebrate her score 1,000 missed it
because she scored so early and often.”
Hinds didn’t realize she had reached her
goal, but her teammates did.
“Right when I scored the basket that got
me to 1,000 my coach called a timeout to
give me the 1,000-point ball and recognize
the accomplishment,” Hinds said.
Scoring on a 3-pointer is nothing new for
Hinds. In fact, it’s her specialty. But Nichols
said can she is more than just a scorer.
She also can pass and rebound.
“Obviously the saying, ‘if you have a
J, you can play’ is true for a reason. Well,
with Kate it can start with that,” Nichols
said. “KateyBuckets is what some people
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Principia’s Hinds passes 1,000-point mark in career with Panthers
Kate Hinds [center] celebrates her milestone moment.
call her! She can put the ball in the
basket from anywhere on the floor, or
off it, or from the parking lot. Putting
the ball in the basket is the name of the
game right? That’s her biggest strength.
“Over the past two years, she has
been a 75-percent free throw shooter
as well. She has others strengths, too.
She’s a nice finisher at the rim when
she chooses to be and is a very instinctive
defender in terms of shooting gaps
and passing lanes as well as a solid
rebounder. She’s been blessed with
some natural athleticism. Her uncle
was an NFL quarterback and her aunt
a ranked WTA tennis player. She also
averages over five rebounds per game.”
Hinds played inside in middle
school; Nichols thought she would do
better outside.
“Kate has gone from a post player in
middle school playing near the basket, to
possibly the most prolific shooter in the
history of the school,” Nichols said. “She
is currently second all-time in 3-pointers
made at Principia and is nearing the record.
“I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right
thing or not by putting her out there. Somewhere
north of probably 60,000 shots later
clearly it was the right decision!”