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NEVC’s Conner eclipses 1,000 point plateau as Lady Knights topple Hume, 57-50
It took Northeast Vernon County Lady Knights guard Makinsey Conner less than three seasons to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau. In doing so in front of a packed house Tuesday night in Walker, the star junior led the Lady Knights to a 57-50 Golden Valley Vernon County conference victory over the visiting Hume Lady Hornets.
If the GVVC recognized a Most Valuable Player, Conner, along with Montrose sharpshooter Abby Vogel, would be a front-runner.
In her freshman campaign two seasons ago Conner averaged 9.5 points per game. In her breakout sophomore campaign last season Conner’s point total for the season nearly doubled, as she averaged 16.8 points per contest. Conner’s junior season has been truly electrifying, with team-leading averages of 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.8 steals per contest.
Conner has exploded for 30-plus points several times this season, including her 32-point outing Feb. 9, as a pair of local college coaches looked on from the NEVC gym bleachers .
Conner entered Tuesday’s matchup 15 points shy of the 1,000 point milestone as she appeared in her 67th career prep game. The contest was knotted 14-14 at the conclusion of the first quarter, with Hume doubling up NEVC 12-6 in the second to grab a 25-20 halftime advantage.
With 1:27 remaining in the third quarter Conner reached 1,000 career points on a short jumper near the right block, enabling Hume to hold a 39-36 lead entering the fourth.
“I know Makinsey was feeling the pressure of reaching that scoring milestone in front of a home-crowd,” said NEVC head coach, Jenny Allard. “I could actually see her relief when she scored point No. 15 (near) the end of the third. From that point on she was much more relaxed and was able to finish the game with her best quarter.”
Conner saved her best for last, scoring eight of her game-high 23 points in the fourth as NEVC outscored Hume 21-11 to seal the regular-season finale in dramatic fashion.
“It was an emotional and chaotic night,” said Allard. “We had nine senior basketball players and one senior cheerleader that were recognized between games, so the gym was full and there were last-minute preparations for that ceremony.”
Added Allard: “People were anxious to see if Makinsey would be able to score her 1000th career point at home. Add in the fact that whenever we play Hume, no matter the circumstances, it’s always an emotional and highly competitive game.”
After winning nine of its past 11 contests, NEVC is 15-7 overall .
Hume’s loss to NEVC was actually its second conference loss, but according to GVVC rules only the first matchup against a conference opponent counts towards the conference standings.
Hume is 15-7 overall and currently resides in second-place in the GVVC standings, trailing Montrose by a half-game. Montrose (5-0) has one game remaining on its GVVC slate, and has already defeated Hume in their lone matchup, played Feb. 2, 47-42. If heavy underdog Ballard were to spring the upset on Montrose, Hume would then earn a share of the regular-season crown, since head-to-head tiebreakers do not come into play.
For Hume Tuesday night, Lakynn Moore chipped in a team-high 12 points. Hume had previously defeated NEVC three times on the season.
“They made free throws (and we didn’t),” noted Hume head coach, Heath Heckadon. “We didn’t play very good defensively. It’s tough to beat a good team four times in (one) year.”
NEVC 67, Hume 23
In the boys game, NEVC led Hume 14-9 entering the second quarter, but then went on an extended 30-2 blitz to grab a commanding 44-11 lead at the break. Led by Elijah Buttorff’s game-high 16 points and eight rebounds NEVC outscored Hume in the second half, 23-12, for the final 44-point margin.
“I was proud of the way both teams were able to ignore the (Senior Night) distractions for the most part and play well,” Allard said of her NEVC squads.
NEVC concludes the regular-season 9-15 overall. Meanwhile, Hume moves to 1-19. Hume wrapped its season Thursday night with a non-conference boys-girls varsity doubleheader at Archie. As of press time, results were not available.
Conner 1K
Allard discussed Conner’s dynamic offensive skillset.
“It’s hard to categorize her position, because she can do everything,” said the first-year NEVC coach. “But I start her as my 3-guard, which means defensively she’s more of a small forward, and why she gets so many rebounds.”
Continued Allard: “Offensively, Makinsey shoots from outside like a shooting guard, and can bring the ball down and set the offense up like a point guard. She can also create her own shot like a 3-guard (small forward).”
According to Allard, the Lady Knights all-time leading scorer is Katie Foreman — concluding her prep carer (2001-05) with 1,767 points.