Halle Herrington nearing P-O’s career scoring record

Halle Herrington can’t really explain it. When the star guard steps on the court, she mentally flips a switch.

“My mind just kind of turns off,” Herrington said with a smile. “It’s in basketball mode. I don’t even know.”

What Herrington and her teammates do know is the Lady Mountie showstopper is one stellar game away from history. Herrington needs 32 points to set P-O’s all-time scoring record.

The 5-foot-6 junior, who averages 30.8 points per game, could very well do it Thursday night against Bellefonte. If not, breaking Missy Witters Helsel’s mark of 1,439 points is all but a guarantee when the Lady Mounties face Penns Valley on Friday.

This isn’t something that sneaked up on Herrington, either. After hitting her first goal of eclipsing 1,000 career points earlier this season, passing Witters Helsel was next on her list.

Herrington, a prolific scorer and respected teammate, is set to become the most decorated player in program history. And those that know her best want nothing more than for Herrington to snare that No. 1 spot.

“I’m really excited for her. We all know it’s something she really wants to happen,” P-O sophomore Kyleigh Kennedy said. “We work as a team, and if she’s open, we pass her the ball so she can break that record.”

Added senior Loryn Hughes: “We’re helping her any way we can for her to get her goal, to get those 32 points.”

When the Lady Mounties (6-8) travel to Bellefonte (2-14), they’ll face a squad that has surrendered 128 points combined in its past two contests.

P-O hasn’t blown teams away recently, averaging 53.7 points per game in its last six. But the Lady Mounties have notched 70 or more points twice this year, and Thursday night could be a third.

Herrington — who accounts for 55.6 percent of P-O’s offense (420 of 756 points) — has scored north of 32 points five times this year. In 78-43 and 75-34 wins over West Branch and Harmony Area, Herrington tallied 39 and 34 points, respectively.

Herrington’s numbers are staggering. And she’s doing it with increased defensive attention.

“I’ve seen her with two or three people on her, and she still manages to get away,” P-O coach Alexis Bacher said. “Teams are stepping up their defenses for her specifically. ... She knows it’s coming. But I’m never concerned that she can’t get through them.”

Bacher knows better. She was Herrington’s coach in elementary school, watching a fifth-grade guard cut through the lane, put it through her legs and toss behind-the-back passes like there was nothing to it.

Herrington — a budding star then, scoring machine now — has impressed for years. She was a calming presence at point guard as a freshman, averaged 30.3 points per game as a sophomore and has outdone herself this season.

Herrington — who has taken unofficial visits to Penn State, Bucknell, St. Francis and IUP — has lofty goals to match the hard work and skill.

“Seeing people come out of Centre County, like Kyla Irwin going to UConn. She had 2,000 points over at State College,” the junior said. “I want to do that. I want to go D-I. I want to score 2,000. I want to be the best.”

But before reaching 2,000, she has to hit 1,440. She has to write her name in the P-O history books.

Herrington, who hasn’t scored fewer than 23 points in a game this month, has two games in the next couple of days to get it done.

“I better,” Herrington said, grinning and shaking her head. “I better.”

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Halle Herrington nearing P-O’s career scoring record."