Higbee girls basketball standout Ronnie Welch surpassed 1,000 career points Thursday night as the Lady Tigers took down Hardin-Central 64-33. The junior finished the game with 21 points and a game-high 10 steals on 10-for-19 shooting from the field. She also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and dished out a team-best seven assists.

Welch, a three-year starter, now has 1,034 career points. She was to be honored at Tuesday night’s game against conference opponent Brunswick after the Advertiser went to press.

Ronnie is an exceptional athlete,” said Higbee coach Tanner Burton. “Seeing her play Thursday showcased her tenacity defensively. She seems hungrier in all areas of the game now that she’s hit that milestone. I think that’s pretty special.”

The Lady Tigers have not cracked the Class 1 state rankings yet this year but continue to receive votes. They are 13-3 overall as of Monday and faced a tough Brunswick team on Tuesday night that likely decided the CLAA Conference champion.

On Saturday, the Lady Tigers will take on the state-ranked Delta at the Central Bank Shootout at Helias High School in Jefferson City. This will be a true test for Higbee. Delta averages 90 points per game this season and is currently ranked third in the state. Tipoff is at 10 a.m.