‘Amazing Grace:’ Fairfield senior sets a new standard
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The path for Grace Shope to become the Fairfield High School all-time basketball leading scorer didn’t begin four years ago when she was a freshman starting high school. The thought of being the all-time leading scorer — whether it be male or female — for the basketball program began when she was in junior high.
Following scoring 24 points in a win that also clinched a share of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division II championship, Shope achieved one of her goals as she passed Nathan Van Winkle’s overall scoring record of 1,543 points.
Shope — who stands at 1,545 points scored after Monday’s game — said following the Lady Lions’ win that her idea of achieving the scoring feat began when she was in the seventh grade, looking at the banners in the high school at Grandle Gymnasium.
The rest, you can say, is now in the record books.
“When I was in seventh grade, I remember looking up at the banners, and I was like ‘I want to be up there,’ especially since I knew about Nathan Van Winkle being so great,” Shope told The Highland County Press. “I had (Van Winkle’s) mom as a teacher in junior high, and she would tell us about him. I was like, ‘I think a girl needs to do it.’”
The senior guard was quick to say thanks to those involved in helping her reach the milestone.
“I want to thank my family and most importantly my team,” she said. “Obviously, I can’t be making that many points if it isn’t for them, and my coaches throughout all the years, especially (Coach Hamilton). He’s helped me a lot, and thank you to everybody who’s helped me with everything along the way.”
Shope — who was a Div. IV All-Ohio selection last season — scored her 1,000th career point as a junior on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in a game at Manchester. Before then — as a sophomore — she set the Fairfield girls basketball record for points scored in a game at 39 points on Jan. 7, 2016, a game where she also set the record for total points in a quarter scored with 18 points against Manchester.
On Nov. 27, 2017, the Fairfield senior became the school's girls basketball all-time leading scorer during a game against East Clinton, where at the time she set the mark with 1,201 points.
Any way it is looked upon, from here on out when Fairfield basketball is mentioned — boys or girls — Shope’s name will be at the top of the list. With all of the success, Shope said entering Monday’s game at Ripley was “nerve-wracking.”
“Obviously, it was nerve-wracking the whole entire time. I was nervous when I first stepped into the building,” Shope said. “I figured if I just push myself a little bit harder, I think I can do it.”
Shope also spoke about what it was like to hit the record-breaking shot, which was achieved after a pass from her teammate Samara Cannon.
“As soon as Sam came in, and she knew she could have had that shot to herself – hands down – but that just shows how great of a teammate she is,” Shope said. “She passed it up to me, and that was just amazing. I’m really glad that happened.”
Surpassing a mark that was set in 1997 was a major accomplishment for Shope, but by no means was it an easy feat.
Shope began this journey to the top scoring spot for Fairfield basketball as a freshman at the start of the 2014-15 season, and in 22 regular-season games, she averaged 13.5 points per game. For the entire season (including tournament play), she averaged 13.7 ppg for a total of 329 points (298 points in the regular season).
The following season (2015-16), Shope added 453 points in 24 games (including tournament play), where she averaged 19.3 ppg in the regular season (425 points scored in 22 regular-season games) and 18.9 points for the entire year.
Then came Shope’s junior season, where in 22 regular-season games she averaged 18 ppg, then after two tournament games she finished with a 17.4 ppg average in 24 total games played that season. That regular season, Shope totaled 395 points, and for the entire year (including two tournament games), she finished with 417 points.
In her current senior season, Shope is averaging 20.4 ppg through 17 games, scoring 346 points thus far.
Fairfield head coach Chad Hamilton spoke about Shope as well after she set the all-time scoring mark, saying she brings a lot to the program offensively and defensively.
“Grace is invaluable to our program. Even if she has a less than stellar offensive night, she does all the little things defensively – rebounding, the way she defends,” he said. “She’s a big part of the reason for this program’s turnaround the last four years. I’m happy for her. She’s put in the work and deserves all the accolades she receives. I couldn’t be more happy.”
This season has been everything Shope hoped it would be, and there is still more to go. Not only was she a member of the first FHS girls team to win nine straight games last season, but this year she’s a member of the first Fairfield girls team to clinch a Southern Hills Athletic Conference championship in its nearly 50-year history, as the league began in 1969.
“This season has been so much fun. It’s completely different from select basketball,” Shope said. “It’s nothing like that because you’re actually with these girls, you’ve grown up with them, and it makes it that much more fun when you’re winning.
“It’s fantastic (the Lady Lions winning a SHAC championship). When people think of wanting a perfect senior season, I think this would be it. We’ve always started out as underdogs. We haven’t always been the best, girls basketball-wise, but this year team-wise we’ve really connected, and we really have worked our butts off to get where we are. It’s a great feeling, honestly.”
Following scoring 24 points in a win that also clinched a share of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division II championship, Shope achieved one of her goals as she passed Nathan Van Winkle’s overall scoring record of 1,543 points.
Shope — who stands at 1,545 points scored after Monday’s game — said following the Lady Lions’ win that her idea of achieving the scoring feat began when she was in the seventh grade, looking at the banners in the high school at Grandle Gymnasium.
The rest, you can say, is now in the record books.
“When I was in seventh grade, I remember looking up at the banners, and I was like ‘I want to be up there,’ especially since I knew about Nathan Van Winkle being so great,” Shope told The Highland County Press. “I had (Van Winkle’s) mom as a teacher in junior high, and she would tell us about him. I was like, ‘I think a girl needs to do it.’”
The senior guard was quick to say thanks to those involved in helping her reach the milestone.
“I want to thank my family and most importantly my team,” she said. “Obviously, I can’t be making that many points if it isn’t for them, and my coaches throughout all the years, especially (Coach Hamilton). He’s helped me a lot, and thank you to everybody who’s helped me with everything along the way.”
Shope — who was a Div. IV All-Ohio selection last season — scored her 1,000th career point as a junior on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in a game at Manchester. Before then — as a sophomore — she set the Fairfield girls basketball record for points scored in a game at 39 points on Jan. 7, 2016, a game where she also set the record for total points in a quarter scored with 18 points against Manchester.
On Nov. 27, 2017, the Fairfield senior became the school's girls basketball all-time leading scorer during a game against East Clinton, where at the time she set the mark with 1,201 points.
Any way it is looked upon, from here on out when Fairfield basketball is mentioned — boys or girls — Shope’s name will be at the top of the list. With all of the success, Shope said entering Monday’s game at Ripley was “nerve-wracking.”
“Obviously, it was nerve-wracking the whole entire time. I was nervous when I first stepped into the building,” Shope said. “I figured if I just push myself a little bit harder, I think I can do it.”
Shope also spoke about what it was like to hit the record-breaking shot, which was achieved after a pass from her teammate Samara Cannon.
“As soon as Sam came in, and she knew she could have had that shot to herself – hands down – but that just shows how great of a teammate she is,” Shope said. “She passed it up to me, and that was just amazing. I’m really glad that happened.”
Surpassing a mark that was set in 1997 was a major accomplishment for Shope, but by no means was it an easy feat.
Shope began this journey to the top scoring spot for Fairfield basketball as a freshman at the start of the 2014-15 season, and in 22 regular-season games, she averaged 13.5 points per game. For the entire season (including tournament play), she averaged 13.7 ppg for a total of 329 points (298 points in the regular season).
The following season (2015-16), Shope added 453 points in 24 games (including tournament play), where she averaged 19.3 ppg in the regular season (425 points scored in 22 regular-season games) and 18.9 points for the entire year.
Then came Shope’s junior season, where in 22 regular-season games she averaged 18 ppg, then after two tournament games she finished with a 17.4 ppg average in 24 total games played that season. That regular season, Shope totaled 395 points, and for the entire year (including two tournament games), she finished with 417 points.
In her current senior season, Shope is averaging 20.4 ppg through 17 games, scoring 346 points thus far.
Fairfield head coach Chad Hamilton spoke about Shope as well after she set the all-time scoring mark, saying she brings a lot to the program offensively and defensively.
“Grace is invaluable to our program. Even if she has a less than stellar offensive night, she does all the little things defensively – rebounding, the way she defends,” he said. “She’s a big part of the reason for this program’s turnaround the last four years. I’m happy for her. She’s put in the work and deserves all the accolades she receives. I couldn’t be more happy.”
This season has been everything Shope hoped it would be, and there is still more to go. Not only was she a member of the first FHS girls team to win nine straight games last season, but this year she’s a member of the first Fairfield girls team to clinch a Southern Hills Athletic Conference championship in its nearly 50-year history, as the league began in 1969.
“This season has been so much fun. It’s completely different from select basketball,” Shope said. “It’s nothing like that because you’re actually with these girls, you’ve grown up with them, and it makes it that much more fun when you’re winning.
“It’s fantastic (the Lady Lions winning a SHAC championship). When people think of wanting a perfect senior season, I think this would be it. We’ve always started out as underdogs. We haven’t always been the best, girls basketball-wise, but this year team-wise we’ve really connected, and we really have worked our butts off to get where we are. It’s a great feeling, honestly.”