Bailey Staton rarely lacks for confidence.
But the Polk County senior had largely given up on the idea of reaching a milestone that few players in North Carolina history have achieved – scoring 2,000 points.
“I know I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Staton said. “But this is one that I never really thought I was going to get.”
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With 2:01 left in the first half of Thursday’s home game against Mitchell, Staton raced ahead of the Mountaineer defense, hauled in an outlet pass and banked home a layup just as she’s done dozens of times in her Wolverine career. This one, though, was a bit different – the basket lifted Staton to 2,001 career points, the level she never thought she could reach.
A look at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association record book shows how rare Staton’s accomplishment is. Entering this season, just 58 players are listed as reaching the 2,000-point mark. There could be 2,000-point scorers out there who aren’t listed, but it seems safe to say that Staton is one of fewer than 100 players in NCHSAA history to climb to that level.
She is just the ninth player in Western North Carolina history to score 2,000 points.
“She deserves it,” said Polk County head coach Brandy Alm. “She deserves every accolade, every award. She’s put forth so much effort and so much work the past four years.”
Staton opened her night with the 209th 3-pointer of her career, that number putting her among the top 20 players all-time in the NCHSAA record book. She finished the evening with 26 points, boosting her total to 2,011. Staton also added to her growing list of school records early in the second quarter, another layup pushing her past Hayley Kropp’s single-season scoring record of 607 points. Staton now has 626 points and counting for her senior campaign.
Rare air, especially for a player who once doubted she’d ever even see the court.
“My sixth grade year, I remember they put out the numbers to see who made the team,” Staton said. “I remember calling my dad and I was like, I don’t think I made the team. I did horrible at the tryout.
“And to be that little 11-year-old girl not even thinking she’s going to make the team to being a 2,000-point scorer, it’s something I’m going to cherish the rest of my life. Like I said, it’s one that I did not think I was going to get, so to surpass it is really special and something I’m really glad I get to hold with me.”
WNC GIRLS BASKETBALL CAREER SCORING LEADERS
- Cetera DeGraffenreid, Smoky Mountain, 3,081, 2003-2007
- Ashton Barton, Rosman, 2,581, 2001-2004
- Janice Connor, Edneyville, 2,346, 1978-1982
- Rashanda McCants, Asheville, 2,285, 2000-2004
- Morgan McMinn, North Henderson, 2,261, 2004-2008
- Emily Carver, Enka, 2,245, 2017-2021
- Lakin Norris, Mitchell, 2,234, 2006-2010
- Laura Cottrell, Hayesville, 2,088, 1989-1993
- Bailey Staton, Polk County, 2,011, 2022-2026
Source: NCHSAA record book
