Sachse teammates, cheerleaders and fans surround senior Charish Thompson (32) after she became the team’s all-time leading scorer in a Friday, Dec. 20 home game against South Garland. Thompson reached 1,626 career points, besting the previous mark held by 2019 Sachse graduate Avery Crouse. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Sachse senior Charish Thompson came into the Lady Mustangs’ Friday, Dec. 20, District 9-6A home game against South Garland just seven points away from becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer.
And given how it doesn’t take long for Thompson to assert herself offensively, she needed less than one quarter of play during a 71-31 blowout victory for the Lady Mustangs against the Lady Titans to break the previous scoring record of 1,625 points, held by 2019 Sachse graduate Avery Crouse.
With 6:42 remaining in the first quarter, Sachse got a steal, and Thompson made a spin move to get past a South Garland defender and converted a layup. Play was stopped to honor the occasion. Her teammates ran onto the court to celebrate the historic milestone.
“I was really excited,” Thompson said. “I was kind of in the moment. I was just like, ‘Let’s go, let’s play the game.’ When I broke the record, it hit me that I broke the record.”
Thompson set the tone for Sachse, scoring the game’s first seven points. She had 15 points by the end of the first quarter, and finished the game with 18 points.
“She’s everything,” said Donna McCullough, Sachse head coach. “She’s the hardest worker, has the best attitude.
“Sometimes the best basketball player is not the hardest worker in the room, but she’s been the hardest worker every day that she steps into the room. She’s very deserving. It didn’t come easy for her. She’s had to surpass some very good basketball players that played here. Kudos to her. She’s put in the work and deserves it.”
Sachse (16-6 overall, 6-0 district), ranked No. 16 in the latest Texas Association of Girls Basketball Coaches Class 6A state poll, played just as about of a flawless game as possible in the first quarter.
The Lady Mustangs held the Lady Titans without a point and forced 14 South Garland turnovers, with many of those turnovers being converted into uncontested layups.
Sachse gained a 31-0 lead after freshman Trinity Thompson got her hands on the ball for a steal and made a layup with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
“The press really gives us belief in the beginning,” Charish Thompson said. “We just try to run our offense and defense perfect. When we play tougher competition, it will help us to be disciplined and stay in our lanes. We’re just connected with each other.”
South Garland (3-13, 0-7) finally on the board when junior Ajah Choice made a 3-pointer just nine seconds into the second quarter.
And although the Lady Titans scored 11 points in the second quarter, the Lady Mustangs remained relentless in their approach.
Sachse built a 51-11 halftime lead after senior Sharon Bekele made a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in the stanza.
Senior Arianna Gregory tallied 10 points. Trinity Thompson finished with nine points. Senior Camille Logan contributed eight points.
With Sachse building a large advantage so early in the ballgame, that allowed their reserves to receive significant playing time.
One player who has benefitted from that playing time is last year’s starting point guard for Sachse, senior Danica Mendoza. Mendoza, who missed most of district play last season with an injury, is regaining the form that she showed prior to her injury. She scored five points in the win over South Garland and was accurate with her passes.
“We need her and we are slowing working her back and to progress her from all of the injury time that she had,” McCullough said. “We’re getting there, but she’s a solid player and a true point guard.”
For more on this story see the January 2, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
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