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Reaching a Milestone
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
January 28, 2016
Riverside junior crashes through 1,000 points by Dave Lauriha
TRIBORO BANNER WRITER
When Riverside paid its annual visit to Mid Valley for a Lackawanna League Division III game on January 7, Lady Vikes junior Lizzie Spindler has plenty on her mind that night. Getting a victory over the Spartanettes was the most important thing to Spindler, but knowing that she was approaching her 1,000th career point added a little extra spice that night. A quick start gave the Lady Vikes a lead, and Spindler lost track of how she stood against the milestone. It took a well-informed teammate to let her know that she had reached the magic number. “At first I didn’t, I was walking back, and I thought I had gotten the point, so I turned around and McKenzie (Haduck) hugged me,” Spindler said. “I kind of thought (I had reached the milestone), because I had been calculating when I was walking back, so I knew.” The one thing she was certain about was the moment the team had called a play, she was very comfortable and very confident, not really worrying about how Mid Valley would defend the play. “I don’t remember the score, but we were running my favorite play, it’s called Single, where I come off a screen,” Spindler said. “The (defender) knew it was coming, because we had run it a couple of times already, so I dribbled back, kind of stopped and then I scored it.” The step-back jumper was a highlight for Spindler, who had a double dose of happiness because Riverside battled for a 51-46 overtime victory over the Spartanettes, a boost for the Lady Vikes’ playoff hopes. “It was my own goal, so that kind of pushed me a little bit, but we have a lot on our plate,” Spindler said. “We’re in the second half now, with bigger games. It was big, because I’ve wanted to do that for so long.” It has been just over two years ago when Spindler began the journey for 1,000 points, 16:30 | CORNELLCHR
Spindler (center) is congratulated by her parents, Ann and Joe Spindler.
and she does remember some things about when she scored her first points for the Riverside varsity team. “Yes, it was against North Pocono, and although I don’t remember the exact play, but it was against North Pocono and that it was a really big game,” Spindler said. “I was surprised I made it (a jumper for two points).” While her point total keeps increasing, the junior has tried to keep a level head and constantly puts the success of the team over any individual goal she may have. After all, she has already made a commitment to play for the Binghamton Bearcats in college after graduating from Riverside in 2017, and athletes in such a position often have to resist the urge to coast in that situation, that they have nothing left to prove. “There is still pressure, because it’s just a
verbal commitment,” Spindler said. “I have to still play hard.” She wants to play that way because she wants to make sure that the coaching staff at Binghamton still wants her. When asked about her best game, Spindler chose a game where she was not the leading scorer for Riverside. “It was this year, when we beat Nanticoke for the (Taylor Lions Club) championship,” Spindler said. “It wasn’t a game where I had the most points, but I played a pretty good game all-around, and the girls had a good game; I think everybody scored in that game, so that was one of most memorable games, in general.” That type of attitude showcases the humble side of Spindler, one of the best attributes for athletes of any caliber.