Staff photo / Brian Yauger. South Range’s Lexi Giles goes up for a layup against Canfield earlier this week. Giles earned her 1,000th career point in the game with a free throw.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP — South Range senior Lexi Giles has gotten her chance to shine this season.

After the graduation of Izzy Lamparty last year, Giles has seen her role increase. While becoming the main target of area defenses, it still hasn’t stopped her from getting points on the board.

Giles reached the 1,000-point mark earlier in the week against Canfield from the free throw line.

When she sank the milestone-setting shot, the banners fell, play stopped, and the senior had a chance to celebrate.

“I’m super excited,” Giles said. “It was definitely something I’ve been waiting for for a long time and I’m glad I got it.”

While not her best game, going against a tough Cardinals defense, as Giles embraced her teammates and family, there was a look of relief on her face that she finally got it.

The first thing she did after the game was thank her team for the support.

“It was very special,” Giles said. “I didn’t think I was going to get it because I wasn’t playing my best, but I had a great team to back me up. They helped me out a lot today.

“It’s a great accomplishment to have and I’m excited and glad I was able to get it in this game.”

While Giles has had an increased presence on the court, her growth off the court is something to note as well. Her role as a team leader has grown and she’s embraced it wholeheartedly.

She’s been excited to encourage the growth of her younger teammates.

“Now that I’m a senior I can be more of a leader,” Giles said. “It’s all about encouraging the younger groups and stuff because they’re the future now. We’ve got to keep encouraging them to keep your head up and just all play as a team.”

That extra time on the court wasn’t just to fill a hole however. Giles, a four-year starter, has put the work in over the years and has grown leaps and bounds.

“Her ball handling has improved, the shooting’s improved, her finishing at the hoop has improved,” Raiders coach Jeff Fishel said. “Every part of her game she’s worked on.

Defensively, she’s gotten better and it helped her defense turn into offense and she’s really become a good leader through the years as well.”

As the postseason rapidly approaches, Giles wants to make her last season at South Range count.

The team currently sits at 10-5 and 8-1 in the Northeast-8. The senior hopes to walk off the court a league champion and make a push toward a district title.

“We just need to keep playing as a team,” Giles said. “Talking, communicating, working on our offense, everyone just shooting the ball and just working together.”

As for after her time at South Range is over, Giles has drawn interest from a few colleges and is hoping to continue her career.

Giles has already left a big impact on the Raiders program, and there’s still time to do more.

“It’s been awesome,” Fishel said about her progression as a player. “It’s fun to watch how these girls look up to her and it’s fun that watch the example that she sets. She’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever coached. The way she goes about her business is so professional and she’s going to leave a special legacy behind here.”

byauger@tribtoday.com