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This basketball season, two Lady Pirate players – Jayla Woodruff and Ayla Hileman – were welcomed to the hallowed halls of the 1,000-Point Club.

Jayla Woodruff

Woodruff is a senior at Williamsburg High School, and credits her father and coach Amy Hileman as her mentors for basketball. When asked who her favorite all-time teammates are, Woodruff said, "I love playing with my whole team. I grew up with most of this team my whole life and I'm glad I got to go through my high school basketball career with them."

Woodruff adds out of her shots, the 1,000th point one was her favorite. To younger players, Woodruff says to "stick with it, and put in the work. It pays off in the long run and so many lifetime memories will come with it. It's also so fun."

Woodruff believes that the Williamsburg community plays an integral role in the basketball community.

"The way our community supports our sports teams is what makes wanting to be successful so much more," Woodruff said. "Without the constant support behind us, I don't think it would be as fun."

Woodruff admits that having the Williamsburg community behind her is a lot like family.

"I have two older brothers who also played sports in high school," Woodruff said. "My whole family is also very supportive in everything I do and I'm very involved with all sides of my family. My mom and dad are two of the most important people in my life and I'm very grateful to have both of them. Most of my family lives hours away but they are always cheering me on and letting me know that they are there. So having that in the back of my head helps push me."

Following graduation, Woodruff plans to get a certification to be a pharmacy technician and possibly go back to school for a doctorate in pharmacy.

"I am very proud of Jayla," Coach Amy Hileman said. "It has been a dream of mine to have players that I have coached reach their 1,000 points. I know what special memories I have of scoring my 1,000 point and to get to watch one of my players do the same was just an amazing feeling. I have coached Jayla since she started in elementary and she has put many years into basketball and I know this has been one of her goals to achieve. I am so glad to get to share this with her as her coach."

Ayla Hileman

Ayla is the daughter of Amy and Adam Hileman, and is currently a Junior at Williamsburg High School. Hileman's mentors are her parents, Greg Simpson and her AAU coach Mike Reed.

Hileman's favorite shot, like Woodruff's, is the shot she made to get her 1,000th point.

For advice for younger generations of basketball players, Hileman said, "It's okay to make a mistake. It's what you do in the next play to make up for it."

Hileman thanked the community for its support.

"I love our small town and the support they have given me and my teammates," Hileman said.

Hileman also has two brothers – Jack and Drew Hileman – and the family resides on a dairy farm.

HILEMAN

Though currently a junior, after graduation, Hileman hopes to play basketball in college and become a teacher.

As for her coach and mother, Amy said, "For Ayla to reach her 1,000 point mark as a junior shows how much time and dedication she puts into this sport. It has been one of her goals since she was little and how special it was for her to reach it on the same night as her aunt's #BeLikeHeather Black-Out Cancer Memorial event. We are the first mom and daughter members of the Lady Pirate 1,000-Point Club, and I am a very proud mom and coach."

Coach Hileman thanked the Lady Pirate fans for attending, whether online or in-person, and supporting Woodruff and Hileman and making their 1,000 point games such a memorable event.