National Highlight Reel: Jasmine Hines adds to Michigan record book

Jasmine Hines is one of the most powerful girls in high school basketball and she has combined her physical strength with surprising athletic ability to become Michigan's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

The 6-foot-3 senior's eighth point during a 71-34 rout for Central Lake (Mich.) over Inland Lakes (Indian River, Mich.) broke the state record of 2,732 points, which was held by Stephanie Hass of Harbor Light Christian (Harbor Springs, Mich.).

One week earlier she had eclipsed the state record for rebounds, 1,533, which was held by Liz Shimek of Maple City Glen Lake.

"Of course, it feels great," Hines said of her impressive records. "It's such a relief to have it over and done with. Everybody was always talking about it. It definitely was overwhelming at times."



Hines can bench press 200 pounds and squat 300 pounds. She also can run a quarter-mile in one minute, six seconds. She is the defending state champion in the shot put and led the volleyball team in kills – several times knocking an opponent to the floor with the force of her hits.

Central Lake athletic director Quinn Barry, who also coaches the girls JV basketball team, described just how strong Hines is when he recalled a day that they both were working out in the gym. One would lay flat on the floor, catch a 14-pound medicine ball and throw it back to the person standing up.

"She hit the ceiling tile (9 ½ feet) and I could barely throw it to her hands," he said, more amazed than embarrassed. "Her physical strength is phenomenal. For our size school (140 students in grades 9-12) she is a one-time-in-life player. She's truly one of the elite players in the country."

Central Lake coach Al Becker pointed out how her strength translates on the basketball court.

"She can grab a rebound and throw it all the way down the floor where a girl doesn't have to dribble (to get a layup)," he described. "Nobody is better driving to the basket. Nobody is going to step in her way. She only averages two fouls a game. She's very light on her feet and very disciplined."

Having played four sports at one time or another, Hines says, "I guess I'm really athletic in whatever sports I play. I catch on quickly. I'm competitive in everything I do."



Her legend was launched when she scored a prolific 72 points in a game as a 5-foot-5 fifth grader. That's the same year Becker made her his varsity manager.

"She was probably one of the better ones I've ever had," he noted. "I could give her stats (to keep) and she would be right on the money."

Becker took Hines - who was 5-11 by then - to a varsity team camp in Gaylord, Mich., when she was an eighth grader – one year before she would be eligible for the high school.

"She was the talk of the team camp," he recalled. "I finally had to pull her out because my kids were starting to depend on her."

Hines calls the camp experience a big turning point in her career because even though she was impressive she realized how much work was ahead to meet tougher competition. She said she spent that summer in the gym and her work ethic obviously has paid off.

She poured in 31 points during her varsity debut as a freshman and has been a dominant player for four years. Entering this week the Trojans have an 18-0 record and are the No. 1-ranked Class D team in the state.
Hines, who is averaging 28.8 points and 15.6 rebounds, says her immediate goal is to help her team win the state title. If she does, then she also is going to beat the state career scoring and rebounding records held by boys.



She is co-valedictorian in her class with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has signed with Michigan State University where she plans to major in sports medicine.

Despite her fame, she is quite humble. Barry says, "I think the limelight bugs her sometimes. She just wants to be one of the kids."

When Hines graduates, she will leave a tremendous legacy at Central Lake and even the surrounding area. Barry paints the picture when he relates, "Kids from opposing teams in our league - after games - take pictures of her and get her autograph. We've gotten a lot of mileage out of that, not just with our girls but also with our boys."

* National Player of the Year candidate Elizabeth Williams (6-3) had 37 points, a career-high 32 rebounds and 12 blocks as once-beaten Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.) rolled past Salem (Va.), 65-38.

* Kristina Higgins, a 6-4 junior, has committed to Baylor University, according to the El Paso Times. She is averaging 18 points and 10.3 rebounds for Chapin (El Paso, Texas).

* The University of Tennessee has received a commitment from 6-1 junior Jasmine Jones of Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), according to the Huntsville Times.



* Kaylah Keys scored 40 points – including her team's final 12 - as Harding Academy (Memphis, Tenn.) defeated University (Jackson, Tenn.), 55-49, in overtime.

* Pope John Paul II (Hendersonville, Tenn.) nipped Father Ryan (Nashville, Tenn.), 69-64, in double overtime behind Sarah Galvin's school-record 46 points.

* Laquanda Younger scored 40 points as Warwick (Newport News, Va.) defeated Hampton (Va.), 66-60.

* Brilliant Mt. Carmel (Ill.) freshman guard Tyra Buss completed her season with 1,029 points – one of the top five totals in state history.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}BOYS BASKETBALL: WALKER CLOSES WITH 56 POINTS
Senior guard Dantley Walker closed out his sensational career with 56 points as Lincoln County (Panaca, Nev.) lost to Agassi Prep (Las Vegas), 86-80, during the Class 2A Southern League Tournament semifinals. Walker had scored a state-record 73 points on Feb. 1 during a 101-87 victory over Agassi Prep.

* St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) outlasted Mentor (Ohio), 108-105, before a standing-room crowd. Sophomore Elijah Brown, son of former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, paced the winners with 23 points. Game honors went to the losers' Cole Krizancic with 35 points.



* Senior guard Gary Bell broke the district tournament scoring record with a 47-point effort as Kentridge (Kent, Wash.) defeated Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 73-59.

* Pike (Indianapolis) edged Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 83-79, with both teams combining for 75 points during a wild fourth quarter.

* Senior guard London Burris scored 43 points and made six steals to lead Western Michigan Christian (Muskegon, Mich.) to an 80-50 victory over NorthPointe Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.).

* Cherryville (N.C.) senior star Terry Whisnant scored 42 points during a 91-73 victory over North Lincoln (Denver, N.C.) to set a Gaston County career record with 2,408 points.

* Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) defeated Monroe (Wash.), 80-69, behind senior guard Brett Kingma's 41 points.

* Christopher Dees posted 41 points and 20 rebounds to lead Verdugo Hills (Tujunga, Calif) to an 81-61 victory over Venice (Los Angeles).



* Six-foot senior forward Andy Lovall tied his career-high with 40 points as Kouts (Ind.) routed Oregon-Davis (Hamlet, Ind.), 99-63. During one stretch he drilled seven consecutive 3-point baskets.

* Basil Smotherman, a standout 6-4 sophomore from Heritage Christian (Indianapolis), has committed to Purdue University, according to Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier-Journal.

* Milestone coaching victories: Butch Fontenot of North Central (Lebeau, La.), picked up No. 800. Royce Huseman of Kingwood (Texas) and Jeff Wall of (Maranatha Christian Academy (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) both earned No. 500.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}WRESTLING: DUNCAN WINS 5TH STATE TITLE
McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.) senior T.J. Duncan became Tennessee's first five-time state champion when he captured the Division II crown at 160 pounds. The University of Maryland recruit finished his stellar career with a 206-20 record.

* Austin Wilson of St. Cecilia (Hastings, Neb.) won his third Class C title at 160 pounds to finish with state records for career victories (180) and consecutive victories (143). Junior Thomas Gilman of Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) also won his third title at 119 pounds to complete a 44-0 campaign. In the semifinals he handed Central City junior Connor Bolling his first loss in 41 matches by an impressive 12-5 margin.

* Scottsboro (Ala.) freshman Brandon Womack won his state-record 74th match this season in the finals of the Class 5A 112-pound division. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in his class and now has won his last 144 matches (186-5 overall).



* After winning her first match by forfeit in the Class 3A state finals, Cedar Falls (Iowa) wrestler Cassy Herkelman lost a 5-1 decision in the 112-pound quarterfinals before being pinned in the second period of the consolation round.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}SWIMMING: HALLOWELL WINS 8TH TITLE
Eastside Catholic (Bellevue, Wash.) senior Ethan Hallowell became the first male swimmer to win eight individual state titles in Washington when he captured the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races in Class 3A.

* Roseburg (Ore.) senior Kaylin Bing finished her brilliant career with eight individual titles and three state records. During this year's Class 6A state meet, she set records in the 50-yard freestyle (22.83 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (50.08).

BASEBALL: GAME DRAWS 110 SCOUTS
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) defeated Montverde Academy (Fla.), 10-5, with 110 professional scouts looking on, according to the Orlando Sentinel. They were there to watch shortstops Francisco Lindor of Montverde and Javier Baez of Country Day. Lindor batted 3-for-3 and scored three times, while Baez went 1-for-3 with a triple and walk.

* In the season opener, 6-4 senior right-hander John Michael Gant fired a no-hitter as Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) posted a 2-0 victory over Lecanto (Fla.). He struck out 14, walked three and faced 23 batters.

POTPOURRI
* East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) pitcher Alyssa Young fired a perfect game with 15 strikeouts to stifle River Ridge (New Port Richey, Fla.), 1-0. She has signed with the University of Florida.



* Becker/Big Lake/Milaca (Becker, Minn.) junior hockey goaltender Alex Darsow (5-4, 140) set what is believed to be a national record when he made an incredible 106 saves during a 4-3 triple-overtime loss to River Lakes (Minn.). The marathon game lasted 81 minutes and 14 seconds.

* Tremendous tradition will be lost this spring when Schenley (Pittsburgh, Pa.) – which opened in 1916 - ceases to be a high school. Graduates include basketball stars such as Kenny Durrett, Maurice Lucas and DeJuan Blair, running back Larry Brown, artist Andy Warhol, musician George Benson and longtime Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince.