Photo credits: ESPN
Over 30 years ago, Lisa Leslie (pictured) had developed into the most dominant high school basketball player in the country as she approached her senior year.
She averaged 27 points and 15 rebounds per game as she led her team to a state victory. Leslie tied the national record for points scored by a high school basketball player (first set by the great Cheryl Miller) on February 7, 1990. Leslie finished with 101 points scored in the first half, which lasted 16 minutes. In this game, Leslie’s crushing demolition of an entire roster during a showcase of unrelenting prowess would go on to put her on the map.
On February 8, 1990, The Los Angeles Times memorably documented Leslie’s utterly overpowering performance as a center for Morningside High School in Inglewood, California. Morningside’s opponent (South Torrance High School) was suffocated by the future pro-basketball Hall of Famer’s monster play so badly, that its players gave up and refused to return and play the game’s second half.
The final score was 102-24. At 6′-5″ using her speed, size, and athletic dominance, Leslie single-handedly torched the opposing team. She shot 37 of 56 from the floor, 27 of 35 from the line, and pulled down a ton of rebounds. Four of her points were deducted, however, owing to a technical foul she made toward the end of a bruising contest.
“The points I scored weren’t easy. There were not a whole lot of layups. They sent all five players after me the whole game, and I tried not to pay attention to it,” Leslie told the Los Angles Times after her legendary performance.
Many people believe that Lisa Leslie is the best female basketball player of all time; to this day.
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