When Frazee senior guard Alexis Tappe was in seventh grade and sitting on the Lady Hornets' bench, she witnessed history, as teammate Courtney Kallis became the team's all-time leading scorer.
Little did Tappe know five years later, she would know exactly what Kallis felt like that evening in 2008.
Making one of her patented slashing moves through the lane, Tappe laid in a soft layup at the 9:20 mark of the first half against visiting Menahga Thursday, thus making her the new all-time leading scorer for the Lady Hornets.
Needing just five points to surpass Kallis' 1,541 career points, it came quickly, as Tappe has become a scoring machine for the 15-3 Frazee squad by averaging 21.4 points per game this year.
It was a mark she knew she was nearing, but not that close until just before game time Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I knew about a half hour before the game, because I saw it on the scroller on one of the (Fargo) TV stations," Tappe said. "But I didn't talk about it or think about it. I just went out to play the game."
On the historical play, Tappe found a crease through the Menahga lane and took it, driving all the way unimpeded for the easy lay-in.
But the path to 1,541 points started that same season Tappe saw Kallis break the FHS mark.
"I was able to play with Courtney some when the game was out of hand," Tappe said. "It was pretty cool."
Kallis was actually on hand to witness her record fall to Tappe and presented her with a basketball commemorating the feat.
"That was really special having Courtney come all the way from Bismarck to be here tonight," said Frazee head coach Dave Conzemius, who has seen the evolution of Tappe through her four-year varsity career.
Tappe started out as a perimeter-shooting point guard, but eventually became one of the best well-rounded players in the area.
She still plays the point guard position, but her lengthy 5-11 frame and muscular build makes her one of the worst mismatches for opponents.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Alexis' biggest improvement came with her strength, which resulted from her working out in the weight room," Conze-mius said. "She is such a strong finisher when she drives to the bucket and she penetrates so well, she either gets a layup or can pop it out to one of her teammates."
As Tappe grew stronger and became more athletic, her defensive ability became a weapon, along with her rebounding.
"I worked on boxing out a lot and being in the right spot for the rebound," Tappe said.
She already has scored 386 points this season, which is by far her best, with seven games remaining.
Her balanced game shows in her double-double average, with her 21.4 ppg and 10.5 rebound per game marks.
She also leads the team in steals with 66, has 39 three pointers (30.2 percent) and is a 51.7 percent two-point field goal shooter.
But Tappe quickly points out if it were not for her teammates, there would be no all-time scoring record.
The team consists of players who have played with each other for at least the last four years, including summer league.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chemistry is strong and it shows with their 15-3 record, which brings up another record Tappe would like to see fall.
"Our goal is to have the most wins of all-time (in Frazee) in one season, which is 17," Tappe included.
With a team not boasting a player over 5-11, rebounding and defense is still stingy.
Senior Ashley Bachmann is a threat from the outside, as her 50 three-pointers this season suggest, along with her record of most career treys, while the team is outrebounding its opponents by a 631-575 margin.
The Lady Hornets have also averaged 61.9 points per game, while limiting their opponents to 46.6.
Although Tappe is the focal point in the Lady Hornets' game plan, not one defense can try to stop just her alone.
That's where her open shots come from.
"We get Alexis her shots in every game and even though she doesn't hit every one, they are there for her," Conzemius said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Becoming the most prolific scorer in Lady Hornet history may have its accolades, but for Tappe, team success following suit is just as important.
"This team has great chemistry and has no drama," Tappe said. "We support each other and work hard."
So in essence, Tappe is enjoying the best of both worlds of top individual success, as well as team success.
Both of which may end in all-time records in Frazee's history.