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Haley Kirby of Delaware Christian goes after a rebound with Tree of Life’s Kasey Ticknor on Jan. 3. Kirby entered the game Feb. 3 against Madison Christian needing three points to set the program’s career record. Buy This Photo

Delaware Christian School senior Haley Kirby was averaging 16.9 points through 16 games for the girls basketball team.

She needed just three points in the Eagles’ 17th game, against Madison Christian on Feb. 3, to set the program’s career record.

“It’s been exciting to go after it this season,” Kirby said before the game. “It’s a big accomplishment because it’s something that has taken four years to achieve. I’m really excited about it. I know coach (Jackie) Boggs plans to stop the game and I will get the game ball after it happens.”

Kirby entered the game trailing 2007 graduate Sarah Hartman, who finished with 1,120 points.

“I am hoping to break (the record) on a basket that Sarah Harp assists,” Kirby said. “We’ve been playing together since the seventh grade. I’m like the captain of the offense and she’s the captain of the defense, but she’s always getting me the ball where I can score. We’ve worked hard together and hard for each other.”

Kirby also has averaged 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 steals. Harp averaged 6.1 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals through 16 games.

“Those two have kind of carried the program since they were freshmen and their careers are linked,” Boggs said. “It would be nice if the record-breaking points come on an assist from Sarah.”

Kirby’s father, Ken Kirby, coached the Eagles in 2008-09.

“He keeps the stats for us and we go over them after every game to see where we can improve,” Haley Kirby said. “I like that coach Boggs motivates and teaches me in practices and games, then I get extra coaching at home, too. It would be a little strange if he was still my coach and I was going to set the scoring record.”

Kirby scored 13 points in a 42-38 loss to Fairfield Christian on Jan. 31, while Brenna McCullough led the way with 19. McCullough averaged 12.8 points and 13.6 rebounds through 16 games.

“Haley is getting face-guarded every game and she’s not forcing things,” Boggs said. “We executed well against Fairfield Christian and Tree of Life (a 45-34 loss Jan. 28) in our last two games, but we missed a lot of bunnies. We’re getting our act together in terms of execution. We need to make those easy shots.

“The (Division IV district tournament) draw is (Sunday, Feb. 5) and I think we’re going to be ready to go. I just hope we don’t have a long layover between the regular season and the tournament.”

•The boys basketball team’s chances of winning or sharing a league championship pretty much were dashed Jan. 27 when it lost to host Granville Christian 52-51.

Granville Christian’s Kyle Streicher made a 3-pointer with 9 seconds remaining for the final points. The Eagles missed two shots in the final seconds.

“We missed a wide-open 3-pointer but got the ball back on the rebound and called timeout to set up another play,” coach Matt Moore said. “We got a contested layup that rimmed around and out at the buzzer.

“We shouldn’t have been in that situation because we were up 10 points in the third quarter and let them hang around. It’s too bad because we most likely don’t have a chance to win the league no matter how we finish.”

Before Feb. 2, Fairfield Christian led the MOCAL at 7-0 and Tree of Life was 8-1. Delaware Christian was 6-3 before playing Tree of Life on Feb. 4.

The Eagles play Fairfield Christian on Tuesday, Feb. 7

Against Granville Christian, Ryan Zinn had 19 points, six steals and five rebounds. MacGregor Roberts had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Luke McGrath added eight points and 10 rebounds.