The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hillmon tops scoring record at Gilmour
Gilmour’s Naz Hillmon entered her senior season signed to play college basketball at Michigan, her legacy cemented as one of the Lancers’ best players in program history after leading Gilmour to its first state championship.
Yet, on Dec. 23, Hillmon accomplished one of few achievements she hadn’t attained.
During the fourth quarter of Gilmour’s 77-42 victory against Massillon Jackson, Hillmon rebounded a miss and finished her putback through contact. Her successful and-one try not only capped a 23-point performance for Hillmon, but made her the Lancers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,659 points.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Hillmon said. “I’m very honored to be able to put my name next to that category. It’s a very, very special accomplishment because it’s something I couldn’t have accomplished myself.”
Hillmon surpassed former teammate Emily Kelley’s previous record of 1,658 points. Kelley, now a starting guard for Winthrop, graduated from Gilmour this spring and was in attendance for Hillmon’s record performance.
After Hillmon scored her 1,659th point, the game was stopped as Kelley presented Hillmon with the game ball to commemorate the feat.
“It was amazing,” Hillmon said. “She’s one of my best friends and having her back home for three days, her being able to see my accomplishment was awesome.”
Hillmon’s received commemorative basketballs for her milestones, including the state title victory, her 1,000th point and the record-breaking game on Dec. 23. Hillmon has her eyes on more individual accomplishments before she heads to Michigan.
Thirteen games remain on the Lancers’ regular season, and they’ll likely play a handful more in the postseason. Hillmon is 341 points away from becoming the fourth girls basketball player in state history to score 2,000 points in a high school career.
“I really hope so,” Hillmon said. “I was trying not to calculate it, but that would be an amazing accomplishment.”
Either way, Hillmon hopes the Gilmour community ultimately remembers her as much for who she is off the court as for her many on-court triumphs.
“I would love for somebody to be like, ‘Every time I saw Naz Hillmon, she made me have a smile on my face’ or something like that outside of just the basketball realm,” Hillmon said.