On Tuesday, February 15, as the Indians and Lady Indians hosted Healdton, Marietta High School senior Toriauna Douglass hit a milestone that not many high school basketball players achieve: she scored her 1,000th point.
Toriauna’s parents, Tory Douglass and Vanessa Aldama are both Marietta grads who were student athletes, and their daughter has followed in their footsteps. She began playing basketball in the Ardmore YMCA league while she was in Pre-K.
“I don’t remember when I didn’t play basketball,” she said. “Some of my earliest memories are of playing Y-ball with my dad coaching me. My parents have been there for every game since I was little.”
She’s also played basketball at every level while in school and has played on four traveling teams, one of which she, along with her current teammates, is still playing on. Dad Tory has coached Toriauna for most of the years that she’s played and is in his second season as her high school coach.
At point guard, Toriauna has been a starter all four years that she’s been in high school. She said most of her points come from driving the lane or feeding to post players and them kicking it out to her for shots from beyond the three-point line.
Toriauna is the first Lady Indian to make 1,000 career points since Tanica Anderson. Ironically enough, Anderson, who is now an assistant coach, was cheering from the bench when Toriauna’s 1,000-point shot fell.
“Toriauna has a competitive nature and a strong will to win,” Anderson said. “She’s grown as a leader this year. She pushes her teammates to be better, and they were all celebrating with her when she hit that shot.”
Scoring 1,000 points is quite a feat, but Toriauna insists that it was even better because it happened at home, in front of the community where she was raised.
“It was fantastic, being able to share something so special with the people who are the most special to me,” she remarked. “I might’ve scored 1,000 points, but I didn’t do it by myself. I couldn’t have done it without great teammates. And being there with my parents, family and friends -- I just can’t thank them enough for all their support.”
The Lady Indians are still active in the post-season games, consuming most of Toriauna’s attention, but she’s also looking ahead to life after graduation. She’s been scouted by colleges in Kansas, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and has made some visits to tour campuses. She admits that she gravitates to the schools in smaller towns that are more like home. So far, she’s made no decisions.
As for dad/coach Tory, he’s proud, and not afraid to admit it.
“I am proud of the player she is, but even more, of the young lady she’s becoming,” he said. “I’m proud of the young ladies on this team that have been playing together since they were freshmen, and I just want them to finish the season on a good note and then finish school together the same way.”