All Autumn Lau has to do is score points at the same pace as she has done over her first three varsity seasons and the Northeastern senior forward will be the new all-time scoring leader in YAIAA girls' basketball.
Lau, who will play Division I basketball at St. Francis College in New York next year with her twin sister Amber, entered the 2008-09 season with 1,758 points to sit exactly 500 points behind the record of 2,258 set by Fairfield's Lauren Beckley. The senior forward averaged 24.1 points per game last season and has already scored 64 points in three games this season to increase her career total to 1,822.
Even if you use the more conservative estimate of 21.3 points per game, which is what Lau is averaging so far this season, the Northeastern senior will become the fifth YAIAA girls' basketball player to crack the 2,000 point barrier by the 12th game of the season.
The others are Beckley (Fairfield, 2006), Barb DeShields with 2,175 (William Penn, 1990), Meredith Cox with 2,097 (Delone Catholic, 2006) and Meggan Quinn with 2,044 (Red Lion, 2006).
At the 21.3 points per game scoring pace, Lau will pass Beckley by about the 25th game of the season. Last year, Northeastern played 30 games and could play even more if the Bobcats advance farther in the YAIAA tournament and the PIAA Class AAA tournament.
It's enough games to wonder if Lau will be able to reach 2,500 points, or at least pass the all-time boys mark of 2,388 set by Jacob Iati last season, especially Lau has developed a new weapon in her offensive arsenal, according to Northeastern coach Mike Drenchko.
"Autumn has really worked on that baby pull up," Drenchko said. "Instead of just trying to power her way to the bucket, she's really gotten very good about coming to a jump start and pulling up."
How many points will Lau total before the end of her high school career? I'm going to guess 2,412. Add your own predictions in the comments section.
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