OLIVESBURG, Ohio — If she hadn’t done so already, Renee Stimpert cemented her place in state history Thursday.
Crestview’s senior All-Ohioan scored her 2,000th career point early in the second quarter and the top-ranked Cougars cruised to a 90-48 win over Plymouth in Firelands Conference action at Crestview High School.
According to the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association website, Stimpert is the 49th girl in state history to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau. Only 47 boys have reached the mark, meaning Stimpert is one of just 96 players ever to achieve the milestone.
“It means so much and really my family has been here every step of the way. I’m so blessed to have my teammates and my coaches to celebrate this with me. It’s just a great feeling,” Stimpert said as she signed autographs and posed for postgame photos with friends and family. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would score 2,000 points.”
Stimpert is the fourth Richland County player to score 2,000 points, joining Malabar’s Francine Lewis (2,231 points from 1978 to 1982) and Tracy Williams (2,143; 1984-88) and Plymouth’s Brook Turson (2,063; 2006-10). With seven regular seasons games remaining and at least one tournament game, Stimpert is on pace to become the county’s all-time scoring leader.
“She has always been a scorer, but she has really improved her game in all facets,” said Stimpert’s father, Fred, an All-Ohioan at Crestview who still owns the boys program records for points in a game (42) and a season (652). “I’m not really sure how many (career) points I scored, but she’s got me beat.”
A 5-foot-8 guard, Stimpert got off to a slow start Thursday. She misfired on her first four field goal attempts before scoring her first bucket on an offensive rebound and putback with 3:31 left in the first quarter, giving the Cougars a 15-4 lead. She would score 10 more points before the period ended — including a 3-pointer off the glass as the first-quarter horn sounded — leaving her two points shy of 2,000.
“I got some good looks early, but my shot wasn’t falling,” said Stimpert, an Ashland University recruit. “I don’t think it was nerves.”
Her milestone bucket came on a driving layup with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter. Play was immediately halted and Stimpert received a standing ovation during a brief on-court ceremony.
“I feel so fortunate to be part of the Crestview community,” Stimpert said. “The fans have always been so supportive.”
Stimpert scored 20 of her 26 points in the first half as the Cougars opened a 49-18 lead. She connected on a couple of mid-range jumpers before scoring her final bucket of the night with 3:37 to play in the third quarter. She was lifted for good with 2:03 left in the period and the Cougars holding 71-26 lead.
“I thought we played well as a team tonight,” Stimpert said. “We still have some things to work on, but we continue to get better and we’re getting closer to that conference crown.”
Crestview (15-0, 9-0) has a two game lead over New London with five Firelands Conference games remaining.
“We want to finish out the regular season and make sure we get the conference championship. Then our goal is to go deep in the tournament,” Goon said. “All that matters is what happens come tournament time.”
The Cougars were 20-2 during the regular season last year, but lost to Wynford in double overtime in their first tournament game.
“Our first goal is to win the conference,” Stimpert said. “Then we want to have a better showing in the tournament than we did last year. We want to at least get to the district and hopefully beyond.”
Crestview took over the top spot in Division III in this week’s Associated Press state poll. The Cougars were third last week.
“I think that No. 1 state ranking is better than scoring 2,000 points,” Stimpert said. “I’m really proud to be 15-0. That is the only number that means anything to me.”
