The HSE Royals girls basketball season ended on a down note as they lost to their bitter rivals, the Fishers Tigers, by a score of 58-44. This loss serves as a bitter end to a promising seasons for the Royals who were among the best teams in the entire state. It also marked the end of the high school career for senior Riley Makalusky who recently reached one of the largest milestones for any high school player: 1000 career points.

Makalusky really burst onto the scene as a sophomore. That season she averaged about 10 points per game in what was a certainly unique 2020-2021 season. Makalusky made great strides in her junior season as she quickly rose to be one of the best players in Indiana. That season her averages increased across the board but the most striking was the now 17.1 points per game that she was averaging. But it’s the other aspects of her game that her coach Brian Satterfield finds more impressive.

“Her versatility is what makes her unique,” Satterfield said. “[Makalusky] can defend multiple positions and can score in a variety of ways that makes her difficult to defend for opposing teams.”

While Satterfield likes to see Makalusky’s defensive development, on Jan. 24 all eyes were on her scoring. In an 81-36 rout over Pike, Makalusky recorded 29 points, her 13^th time this season that she eclipsed the 20-point mark. Those 29 points were enough to push her over the 1000 career points mark.

“This achievement means everything to me,” Makalusky said. “It has been one of my goals since freshman year to score 1000 points and it’s amazing to see it happen.”

Makalusky’s journey was not always easy and by her own admission, she was an “undersized and underdeveloped player” her freshman season. This forced Makalusky to outwork her competition.

“I started training every day,” Makalusky said. “Before [training] there was no way I would have believed someone if they told me I would score my 1000 point.”

In the moment Makalusky did not even realize that she had eclipsed the monumental number.

“When I found out I scored my 1000 point I was filled with excitement,” Makalusky said. “I am so blessed to be able to do it with my sister and my best friends on the court because without their help, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Even with Makalusky’s departure, the Royals should be in good hands next season with Makalusky’s younger sister Maya, seeming to be the heir apparent. As for Riley Makalusky, she will be playing basketball at Butler University next season.