MT. CARMEL, ILL. – Wabash Valley coach Lacey Shalenko says sophomore guard Keya Patton "is a different breed."
And just to show anyone in attendance at Spencer Sports Center for the NJCAA Midwest District quarterfinal-round game who might have been unaware of her talent, Patton joined the exclusive 1,000-Point Club at the school on nothing less than a pull-up 3-point field goal in transition.
Who does that?
"She is such a gamer, and a clutch player," Shalenko said. "Anytime you need a bucket you can give the ball to her. This is a really, really special player, and I've enjoyed having her. (She is) obviously a huge part of our success."
Patton, who earlier this season set the single-game scoring record of 46 points, finished with 30 as the Lady Warriors' overwhelmed Southeastern, 120-60, on Tuesday night in the final home game of the season. Patton's entire scoring line was impressive: nine rebounds, six assists and five steals to lead the three-time defending district champions, who now take their 28-2 record to Rend Lake College on Thursday in a 5 p.m. semi-final game against Olney Central, a 79-76 winner over Lincoln Trail.
Needing 17 points to get to 1,000 for her career, the final pursuit began slowly enough for Patton. She scored only four points in the first quarter, then opened things up in the second quarter. When she reached the milestone late in the frame, the game was halted for a brief ceremony at mid-court. Patton was presented with a ball designed for the occasion by her coaches, Shalenko and assistant Dee Mathis.
WVC led 37-14 at the end of the first quarter, the 23-point margin almost matching the 25-point Lady Warrior win over Southeastern (9-22) last Friday in the regular-season finale for both clubs.
By halftime, the lead was 63-21.
As good as Patton was outside, Mo Pruitt was that on the inside. The six-foot sophomore put together perhaps her best performance of the year, with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Jazmyn Turner helped underneath as well, with a team-high rebound count of 12 to go with eight points.
Shalenko said her Lady Warriors appear to be peaking at the right time.
"I think we're playing better as a team and everybody is falling into their roles," Shalenko said. "That's what we want at this time of year."