By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Woodruff senior basketball star Sadie Burnette has become so accustomed to setting shooting records for the Lady Wolverines’ program that she broke her own record twice in the span of three days during Woodruff’s first week of the season.
Burnette connected on a single-game record six three-pointers during the season-opening win over Boiling Springs in the Coach Varner Tip-off Classic tournament hosted by Woodruff. Three days later, she tied that mark in the first half alone in the tournament championship game against Laurens and set the new mark of seven during that tilt against the Raiders.
Now, Burnette claims a milestone sought after by every basketball player. During the Lady Wolverines’ game against Laurens on December 4, Burnette eclipsed the 1,000-point mark of her career, which began with her freshman season on the varsity squad.
Burnette becomes just the 10th player in program history, which began over a century ago in the early 1920s, to accomplish the feat. It is an achievement special to her.
“I have been working toward this since I was a freshman, and (scoring 1,000 points) was always one of my goals,” explained Sadie. “Without my teammates, I would have never gotten here.”
Burnette’s great-grandfather, Woodruff’s legendary Coach Willie Varner, won four state championships as the lady’s basketball coach during a run from 1962-1967. Coach Varner passed away when Sadie was very young, and though she has no vivid memories of her great-grandfather, she is proud to represent the program he brought to prominence all those years ago.
“I think I will be able to look back and be proud of what I was able to do,” she said.
Sadie Burnette already holds the record for most career three-point makes, a mark she set as a sophomore, and is currently on pace to shatter her own single-season three-point record, which she set as a freshman. It has been a remarkable career for Burnette, who was named one of the top five senior players in Class 3A by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.
Woodruff head coach Jon Jansen is proud of Sadie and the growth she has experienced as a player over the years, describing her as a leader to her teammates.
“Sadie Burnette has given her all to Woodruff High School,” Jansen said. “Without a doubt, her leadership has been exemplary. She sets the expectations for her teammates and follows it up with her actions and holds everyone accountable.”
Burnette is averaging 19.2 points per game through the first five games of the season, and with a very talented team across the board, she hopes to help lead the Lady Wolverines deep into the play-offs in her final season.
“I think we should definitely win region and I think we can win upper-state and go to state, too,” Burnette said.
Author: Tracy Sanders
