Western Albemarle girls basketball’s Elisabeth Coffman had no idea how close she was to 1,000 points. It just didn’t enter her mind until late in the Warriors’ win over Monticello Friday night.
“I had no idea,” Coffman said. “They kept saying ISO or backscreens and be aggressive, go get fouled and try to score. I was just like okay coach. I had no idea.”
Coffman notched her 1,000th point against the Mustangs as part of a 14-point, three-steal effort in a 56-25 victory over the Mustangs.
“She’s amazing, she really is — she does so much on the court,” said Western coach Kris Wright. “Obviously people see her handle the ball and shoot a lot but her assist totals are high, her steal totals are high, her rebound totals are high, she draws fouls, she makes other kids look really good. She’s humble through all of it.”
Coffman, who has started every year of her varsity career, is the one who looks for the extra pass, who sets up teammates. She’ll shoot when necessary or when she’s open — she’s been a fearless shooter since she was a freshman — but Coffman’s impact is best measured over the years not by her offensive output but by the wins the Warriors have amassed.
“Basketball is way more than just scoring, it takes five people on the court to really dig down and play for each other,” Coffman said. “The other people on my team looked for me and were selfless enough to help me score and get that point. I’m very grateful.”
Coffman’s career started with a moment that set the tone for the four years of selfless play that have followed. As a freshman she was uncomfortable with starting at the point in place of an older player, Julia Haws, who’d held the spot for two years. Haws offered to switch spots and let Coffman handle the ball.
“It kind of trickles down through the years,” Wright said. “I’m just happy.”
With the Warriors set to play on the road in Roanoke the next morning, Western was determined to get Coffman, the four-year starter at point guard who’s done a little bit of everything during the years, over the hump in front of the Western students and parents. Which accounted for Coffman being in the mix so late in a game that was well in hand.
“She had no clue, period, none,” Wright said. “I called the timeout, when we had the ball underneath to set up something for her and before that I told her you’re one point away, I need you to score. Would she get it eventually? Yes. We just thought it would be cool for her to get it in front of her fellow students.”
Coffman obviously respects the support she’s had to get there too.
“It was a complete team effort, it’s been a lot of hard work from my parents who have pushed me to get better and provided the resources for me to be able to do this,” Coffman said. “Coach is always talking about how much of a privilege it is to play and this is a stepping stone that means a lot.”
