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photo by: Strike a Pose Photography

CameronÀÏ˾»úÖ±²¥™s Maci Neely, pictured with Cameron Athletic Director Roger Cain, left, and Cameron head coach Holly Pettit, right, eclipsed 1,000 points in her high school career Saturday at home against River View. Neely scored 20 in a win against the Raiders to reach 1,014 career points.

CAMERON — It was a win for the Cameron Dragons on Saturday against the River View Raiders, 57-43, but more than that, it was a milestone day for a player in the upper tier of their program’s history.

Senior guard Maci Neely already has all-state honors and three state championships under her belt, including hitting a game-winning shot in one of the championship games, and on Saturday she reached the 1,000-point threshold in the second quarter against the Raiders in a highlight of a 20-point, 10-rebound day.

“I’m so proud of her,” Cameron head coach Holly Pettit said. “Maci’s a player that gives you 110% every day. On the court she’s always in the right place. She deserved the moment, she works hard in practice and in games she never gives up. Just when you think she’s too tired and can’t run the floor again, there she is, she gets a steal and a layup. I’m very proud of her for putting her name in Cameron history, scoring 1,000 points.”

Coming into the game six points shy of 1,000, the senior’s 20 points raises her career total to 1,016.

Fourteen of Neely’s 20 came in the second half as the Dragons needed her to pull away from a tenacious River View team.

“She’s a senior this year, she’s a captain and she does have to be a leader,” Pettit said. “She is the one who has been on the floor the most in the past four years out of this group here. She’s had the experience in the big games, in the close games, and that experience is going to help us down the road.

“Just like here in the fourth quarter, River View got it back within maybe seven, and Maci just took over. She got a couple steals, drove and made a couple nice shots, and put us up to where we were a little more comfortable. Hopefully she can continue to do that this year.”

Neely’s and-one lay-in with four minutes left in the fourth quarter put Cameron up 13 over the Raiders. After the game — and during it — the celebration was on.

“They were all screaming in the locker room and right before halftime they were happy for her,” Pettit said. “When it happened, there was a nice crowd and they were happy for her. That’s a good thing about Cameron, there’s always great support. It happened on a good day, that was a good Christmas present for her.”

Kendra Thomas scored eight for Cameron, while Macey Bertram had six points and nine rebounds. Chasity Kennedy had 21 for River View.

The Dragons move to 3-2 on the season and host West Greene on Monday.