1. King’s Rader Discusses Recent Milestone
Four years ago when Celia Rader entered Scandlon Gymnasium for the first time to begin
her collegiate career, she had no idea that she would leave King’s College as one of the best
players the school has ever had. A 5-7 guard from Scranton Prep, Rader was just looking to
enjoy four more years of playing basketball but what happened on Wednesday January 30 set the
bar. She became the 19th player in King’s basketball history to score 1,000 points. After the
milestone shot went in, the fans at Scandlon Gymnasium gave her a standing ovation and she
was presented with balloons, a special basketball, and got her picture taken at mid-court with
head coach Brian Donaghue.
Rader came into the game against Eastern needing just six points for the milestone.
Before the game Rader was just trying to stay focused on the game and not the milestone. “I
wasn’t trying to focus so much on the fact that I could score my 1,000th point, I thought it would
just come playing the game and it did,” Rader said. With 3:27 to play in the first half, Rader
achieved the milestone on a three pointer with her fellow senior teammate Kaitlin Michaels
assisting on the play. Rader gave complements to her teammate for helping her achieve the
milestone. “It was funny, I was joking with Kaitlin before the game and she told me that my
1,000th point wouldn’t count unless it came from her, and it did so it was really cool,” Rader
joked.
In the heat of the game, Rader didn’t realize, until everyone started cheering, that indeed
she had scored her 1,000th point. Scandlon Gymnasium was packed with family and friends of
Rader who wanted to witness the special moment. “It was really exciting, really cool when the
shot went in. I kind of forget to be honest. It was all too much. I had lots of support from family,
faculty, and friends. I had many faculty members and people that I don’t even know come up to
me and congratulate me, it was really nice,” Rader said.
Coming into the season, Rader had no idea that she could achieve such a milestone. “I
didn’t. I really never even thought about it. One day somebody came up to me and said
congratulations you’re 104 points away from 1,000”, Rader stated.
Rader spoke on her Lady Monarch career as it begins to wind down. “I think there are a
lot of good memories. It would be really nice if we could get back to the Sweet 16 this year. We
have a lot of momentum ahead of us. I just feel that every year there was something positive and
something to remember. I think being a senior, this is going to be my favorite year but last year
was certainly hard to top.”
This was just one of many special moments in Rader’s career and this King’s women’s
basketball season. She certainly is a player who will be remembered for years to come. The next
special moment for Rader will be senior day against cross-town rival Wilkes University on
Saturday, February 16 before the playoffs begin.