Slaughter reaches 1,500 point milestone in win over Raytown

​by Michael Smith

     Whenever Grace Slaughter puts up 30 points in a game for the Grain Valley girls basketball team, it’s not a surprise for her teammates, coaches or fans.
     It’s just something that the junior does frequently.
     Consistently having high-scoring games is a big reason why she eclipsed the 1,500 point mark for her high school career in a big game against Suburban White Conference rival Raytown.
     She put up 38 points on 15-for-29 shooting (51 percent) as her team earned a 67-56 win against the Blue Jays Thursday at home.
     Slaughter is second all-time in career points for the Grain Valley girls basketball team. She passed Claire Rose who had 1,492 points. Even after accomplishing such a tremendous feat, the junior remained humble.
     “I wasn’t even really thinking about it until they announced it at the end,” Slaughter admitted. “I am so thankful for my teammates and the people surrounding me. I have to give thanks to my teammates for helping me get those numbers.”
     It also helps that she goes through rigorous training when shooting the ball in the gym and her parents have been with her every step of the way.
     “My parents rebound for me every night,” Slaughter said. “They don’t care if it’s 5 in the morning or 10 at night, they help me get up shots.”
      On Thursday, Raytown had no answer for Slaughter as she showed how versatile she is, scoring on drives to the basket, off offensive rebound, while posting up and shooting from behind the arc. She is able to do it all on the court.
      “She’s amazing, she’s someone we can always count on,” Eagles junior Ella Clyman said. “She’s a great teammate and friend and she had an amazing game.”
     And part of the reason for the amazing game was a move Slaughter often went to against the Blue Jays, the Euro Step. It's a move in which an offensive player picks up their dribble, takes a step in one direction, and then quickly takes a second step in another direction. That move was effective in her drives to the basket.
     “I’ve always liked the Euro, it’s something I use depending on the personnel of the other team,” Slaughter said. “I have to read the game. These girls for Raytown are really shifty, so I know they will kind of fall for that or look for the pass and try to steal the ball.”
      Raytown hung tough with the Eagles (8-2) in the first half. Both teams were tied at 13-all at the end of the first period and Grain Valley went into halftime ahead 22-19. Slaughter helped the team get some breathing room going into the fourth as she scored 11 third-quarter points to extend the lead to 41-33.
     The Eagles led by as many as 15 points (49-34) early in the fourth after Slaughter hit a 3-pointer from about 24 feet out on the right wing. But the Blue Jays (9-2) wouldn’t go away as they went on a 9-1 capped by Summer Yancy’s fastbreak layup to narrow the gap to 51-43.
     After empty possessions from each team, Slaughter hit a much needed basket when Grain Valley needed it most. She hit a step back 3-pointer from the left wing late in the period to make it 54-43. Raytown never got closer than 10 points for the rest of the way.
     “What’s so great about it is every point matters,” Grain Valley head coach Randy Draper said. “She scored some important points. She gave us some breathing room. I was talking to the team after the game and said, ‘1,500 points is ridiculous.’”
     When she shoots from the outside, Slaughter said she has a similar mindset to a current NBA superstar.
     “I saw a video of (Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry), and the media asked him about what he thinks about when he shoots,” Slaughter said. “It brings back all the memories in the gym, shooting for two hours with my parents. It’s about having confidence in your shot and putting the work in.
     “Something Steph Curry said that I agree with is, ‘I don’t think anything when I shoot. I am just confident when I shoot and just think my next shot will go in.’”
     While Slaughter did some heavy lifting on offense, she got plenty of help from her teammates. Clayman had a near double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Junior Cameryn Bown chipped in with eight points and played excellent defense for much of the game.
     “She played great against Olathe North, she’s got it going,” Draper said of Clyman. “She works really hard, too.”
     Added Slaughter: “Since her freshman year, she has just continued to grow with her shooting and rebounding. Ella being able to box out those big girls and allow us to grab the rebounds is so huge for us.”

Grain Valley junior point guard Grace Slaughter dribbles the ball past halfcourt in a 67-56 win over Raytown. She reached 1,500 points for her high school career and dropped a game-high 38 points. 
Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Emma Jane Ogle looks for an open teammate.
Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Annabelle Totta drives to the basket. 
Photo credit: Michael Smith