Vista Ridge basketball’s Brooklyn Kaiser scores 1,000th career point on way to win over Eaglecrest

Vista Ridge senior Brooklyn Kaiser needed eight more points to reach 1,000 career points.

But she wasnt worried.

Even when there was only five minutes remaining and she was one point away, she didn't panic.

A composed Kaiser stayed focused on the game, in which her team was two down, and when the opportunity for a second-chance layup arose, she knew it was time.

It was an amazing feeling, Kaiser said of the moment.

I had thought eight points was easy.

But it wasnt about me, it was about the team.

Our goal was to win.

Putting her team before herself propelled Vista Ridge ahead of Eaglecrest 53-48 in its first game of the season.

Kaisers 1,000th point, and her two free throws after, put the Wolves ahead of the Raptors for the rest of the game.

Its rare for high school basketball players to reach 1,000 points.

Its even more rare to have two teammates do so.

Kaisers teammate, senior Jasmine Byers is at 838 points, making her own 1,000 point celebration this season likely inevitable.

A feat like that doesnt come easy.

It's a culmination of years of hard work and dedication to the sport.

Most of all, its dedication to each other.

Because they have been playing for so long they just play well together, Sarah Steenmeyer, Brooklyns mother, said.

The two of them reaching the milestone shows their dedication to each other, their sport, and their teammates.

It shows the younger classmates it's an achievable goal.

After playing together at Skyview Middle School.

Kaiser and Byers joined the Vista Ridge basketball team together as freshmen, along with their friend Meadow Huestis.

The three have become close on the court and are the only seniors on the roster this year.

However, they werent the only newcomers their freshman year.

Jeremy Ackerly, the head girls basketball coach, was also new that year, which created a special bond between the four.

The girls were the first players Ackerly met, and they even beat him to the gym the first day.

The three girls all started for the team their freshman year, forcing them to learn a lot on their own and taking on leadership roles early on.

Our connection was really good and we felt like we could do something great here, Kaiser said.

I wanted to start something new with them.

While their first year was not what they wanted, posting just four wins that season.

The team has improved each year, with Byers and Kaiser both contributing to the programs rise.

Therefore, Ackerly is not surprised at all about Kaisers accomplishment Friday night.

She has been a stud since her freshman season, Ackerly said of Kaiser.

She's a gifted basketball player but also puts in a lot of work.

She earns and deserves a lot of opportunities on the floor.

Kaiser grew up in basketball gyms, breeding a life-long love for basketball.

Her father, Eric Kaiser, is the head boys basketball coach for Harrison while her brother, Payton Kaiser, also plays and competes for Ottawa University.

[Payton] was definitely the person who pushed me the most, Kaiser said of her brother, who also played for Vista Ridge.

He spent countless hours with me working out and helping me.

He has helped me mentally and physically get better at the game.

I aspire to be like him.

Those countless hours of training are largely what has gotten Kaiser to her 1,000 points.

The 6A all-state honorable mention regularly works out on her own outside of normal practice, such as lifting or getting in extra shots at the YMCA.

The 1,000 points is a humble testament of her work and dedication and commitment, Eric Kaiser said.

She is fortunate to have an older brother who plays basketball and can be a role model for her.

She respects the game and goes about it without bringing attention to herself.

While Kaiser is a prolific scorer, as point guard she is also a team player, and is constantly finding plays for her teammates, much like she did Friday night.

She is competitive, but her commitment to training is ultimately to help her team win.

She wants to be a good teammate, Steenmeyer said.

She wants to be coachable and play at a higher level.

Putting in the work when no one is watching develops you as a player.

Both Kaiser and Byers are looking to play college basketball, but have not made a decision yet.

Taking the advice of loved ones, the girls are staying in the present and focused on the season at hand.

As Ackerly proudly watched from the sideline on Friday, he couldnt help feeling a little bittersweet.

He was proud of his senior class, who he essentially watched grow up the past three years, but was also sad about the start of a chapter closing.

He looks forward to Byers 1,000th point, as well as her and Kaiser's college commitments.

After that, who knows what the team could accomplish with his seniors at the helm.

Im most looking forward to being a fan of them, just watching them play together, Ackerly said.

I dont want it to end, it will be an emotional last ride for these guys.

I want to make it last as long as it can.

I want them to live in the moment..

This article has been shared from the original article on gazette, here is the link to the original article.