Making her mark

In her third season with the Lady Tornadoes, Yamaris Guevarez has hit a milestone that only a handful of players achieve throughout their high school careers. Heading into Booker’s non-district game versus North Port Monday, Guevarez was 17 points away from hitting the 1,000-point mark.

Guevarez scored her 16th and 17th points on a basket in the third quarter, giving her exactly 1,000 points for her career.

Guevarez finished with a game-high 27 points in the Lady Tornadoes’ 53-48 loss to North Port.

“It (means) a lot,” Guevarez says of the milestone. “I’ve been trying to get there for the longest time ever since my uncle passed away.”

William Rodriguez, a former basketball player and track athlete, died before ever getting the opportunity to see Guevarez hit her first layup.

“I think if my uncle were here, he would be sitting right in the front row right next to my brother (Eric Guevarez) telling me to go here or go there,” Guevarez says.

Guevarez began playing basketball 10 years ago after one of her best friend’s, Riverview player Ana Rodriguez, encouraged her to join the Suncoast League. Guevarez’s brother played basketball at the time, but it wasn’t until she was fully immersed in the game that she experienced the excitement that comes from being out on the court firsthand.

“I didn’t know the feeling of having people screaming and cheering for you,” Guevarez says. “It’s a really good feeling. I can feel the adrenaline that comes from the oohs and aahs.”

Guevarez’s brother graduated in 2008, but she still looks to him for advice and guidance on the court.

“He teaches me a lot and I pick up on his moves,” Guevarez says. “When we win, after the game, I get a fist bump from my brother, and that’s when I know I did well.”

Guevarez began talking about scoring 1,000 points when she was in middle school. She hoped to hit the milestone last season, but the Lady Tornadoes’ season ended in the district tournament, leaving Guevarez with 873 points.

Prior to this season, Guevarez anticipated hitting the mark roughly five games into the season. Booker played its sixth regular season game Monday.

But, although Guevarez was focused on hitting the mark, she also hopes to help Booker capture its first district title since she’s been there.

“It’s been years,” Guevarez says.

By the numbers
1,010 - career points Guevarez now has after hitting the 1,000-point mark Nov. 24.

6 - regular season games it took for Guevarez to reach the milestone

873 - points Guevarez had scored heading into this season

10 - years Guevarez has been playing basketball

17 - the Puerto Rican national team Guevarez played for during the summer prior to the start of her sophomore year

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].