HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – Hasbrouck Heights’ junior Gina Minichiello reached the 1,000-point mark in her high school career as Hasbrouck Heights lost to Secaucus, 76-54, in a NJIC Meadowland girls basketball game Friday afternoon at home.
Minichiello, who finished the day with 22 points, scored her 1,000th in the third quarter. She is the first Hasbrouck Heights player to reach 1,000 points since Anthony Palmer in 2019. The last Lady Aviator to join the 1,000 point club was Stacey Porzl in 2016.
Minichiello hit the milestone bucket in the opening seconds of the third quarter. She ran the baseline and took the pass just outside the key for the score at 7:51.
Hasbrouck Heights head coach Cherryl Bott explained that they “wanted to set up some screens on the block to have her (Gina) get an open look.”
After the bucket, she was swarmed by her teammates. The game was paused for a presentation with current and former players and her family, parents Rocky and Terri, her sister Mia, and brother Rocco, who face-timed by cellphone, in front of a packed Hasbrouck Heights student and parent section.
“I really didn’t like to talk about it,” Minichiello said after the game. “I just wanted to go in here, playing hard, playing my game and letting everything come to me.”
She was also thankful for the support of her parents and family, and her coaches and friends.
Minichiello had previously scored 1,000 points during her recreation travel basketball career as an eighth grader in 2023.
“I just like to go out there and work hard,” she continued. “And I want to be a role model for all the kids that are younger than me, for everyone to keep working hard, and to strive to be a 1,000 point scorer, also.”
“She just works hard,” added Bott. “She’s a really good kid…she sets the example. She’s not very vocal, but she leads by example. The kids look up to her. I think it’s great for the program. Young kids see that. They want to come, they want to play with her. She’s just a good role model.”
Minichiello said she was grateful for all the support, explaining, “leading into this, I didn’t expect as much….people coming up to me saying, ‘It’s happening today!’ And it made me realize how many people really do care for me. How many people showed up for me when the moment was big, and how much support I had throughout the whole game.”
