AUGUSTA — Carylanne Wolfington’s quest to hit 1,000 career points almost became more important to the Hall-Dale fans than the outcome of Tuesday’s game – which is why the fans were so excited when that quest had a happy ending.

Wolfington, who needed 20 points to reach 1,000, passed that mark with 1 minute, 28 seconds left in a Western Class C quarterfinal against St. Dom’s when she hit a short lefty bank shot on a fast break. And the defending state champion Bulldogs won the game, 45-32 at the Augusta Civic Center.

“Great student, great leader, a great teammate,” Hall-Dale Coach Brandon Terrill said. “To have her name immortalized on our gym wall is really (going to be) special, and she deserves it more than anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Top-seeded Hall-Dale (16-3) will face No. 4 Traip Academy in the semifinals Thursday.

Wolfington reached 19 points in the third quarter, and the Hall-Dale student section began screaming whenever she touched the ball. Wolfington missed four straight shots before making the basket that gave the Bulldogs a 43-27 lead.

Terrill immediately called timeout, and the public address announcer notified the crowd of Wolfington’s milestone.

In the opening minutes, the Hall-Dale fans were more nervous than elated.

St. Dom’s (8-12), which had lost to Hall-Dale twice by a total of 44 points in the regular season, jumped out to a 9-2 lead. Behind Allison Conley (eight points, eight rebounds) and Mary Caron (13 points, nine rebounds), the Saints controlled the boards early, handled Hall-Dale’s press, and even shut down Wolfington and the Bulldogs offense.

Hall-Dale regained control by the end of the first quarter, though, and took the lead for good at 12-11 when Wolfington banked in a 35-footer with 7 seconds left in the quarter. Wolfington and Kristina Buck (15 points) each hit three 3-pointers, most of them in the first half as Hall-Dale built a 26-18 lead at the break.

St. Dom’s closed the gap to 26-22 early in the third quarter, but made only four more field goals the rest of the way. With Hall-Dale slowly pulling away, the matter of interest became Wolfington, and she delivered.

“It means a lot,” Wolfington said. “Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates and community. That’s all I’d like to say.”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com