Girls Basketball: Salem's Tiasia Tatem put together terrific season to reach 1,000-point milestone

Salem's Tiasia Tatem attempts a shot while being guarded by Pitman's Brenna Liner on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. (Staff Photo by Brad Kingett/South Jersey Times)

Salem's Tiasia Tatem attempts a shot while being guarded by Pitman's Brenna Liner on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. (Staff Photo by Brad Kingett/South Jersey Times)

Tiasia Tatem entered her senior season at Salem having averaged close to 12 points per game over the past two years. But in order to reach one of basketball's biggest milestones – the 1,000 point mark – she would need to improve on her already strong scoring pace.

That’s exactly what Tatem did this winter, notching 16.4 point per game over the course of 24 contests to finish with a career total of 1,039.

When I met Tiasia during her sophomore basketball season, she shared her dream with me. ’My name is going to be on the 1000 point banner,’” Salem head coach Shikeena Lynard said. “Her efforts on and off the court have shown that she has what it takes to make anything she sets her mind to happen.”

Tatem finally hit the milestone on Feb. 27 against Woodbury, on a night when she tallied 24 points – her second-highest mark of the season and just one of her seven 20-plus point performances. Her season-high came against Wildwood in early January, when she notched 28 points.

Tiasia Tatem after scoring her 1,000th career point against Woodbury on Feb. 27. (Photo courtesy of Shikeena Lynard)

“Her confidence and determination this season on and off the court made her a strong leader as well as clear candidate for team captain,” Salem assistant coach Jamie Bacon said. “Her career 1,000-point achievement was not an easy feat. The teams she played against were talented and did not allow her to score without contest. Instead, they pushed her to work hard for each and every point, which makes this well-deserved accomplishment that much more extraordinary.”

As impressive as her efforts on the court were, her work off the court has proved just as important. Tatem is enrolled in Salem’s International Baccalaureate program and carries a 3.98 grade point average. As a result, both Cabrini College and Rowan University have offered her the chance to continue her basketball career beyond this year.

“Tiasia's accomplishments isn't just about an athlete scoring 1,000 points,” Lynard said. “It's about a young lady defining the meaning of a student-athlete and I am so proud of her. I know that this is just the beginning for her.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.