WINDHAM – Meghan Gribbin needed 21 points Tuesday night to become only the third player in Windham High School girls basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for a career. Gribbin got the points she needed and more as she dropped in 36 during a win over Gorham.

“We were just as excited for her to score 1,000 as Meghan was,” said Eagle coach Jessie Cummings. “We build a team and we build a family. The girls wanted her to score it as much as she did.”

In fact, Gribbin’s teammates may have been more excited for her to hit the milestone than she was. Gribbin had an entirely different emotion overcome when she banked home her 21st and 22nd points of Tuesday night’s game to put her over 1,000 for her career.

In doing so, she joined Payson Swan (1996) and Leah Bennett (1998) as the only other girls players in Windham history to reach that mark. On the boys side, Darren Elder hit the 1,000-point mark in 1992.

When asked how she felt when she reached the milestone only one thought came to Gribbin’s mind. “Relief,” she said.

In fact, Gribbin didn’t even realize that she was closing in on the 1,000-point mark until very recently.

“I didn’t really know (about the milestone) until about a week and a half ago when coach told me,” Gribbin said. “I’ve never gotten nervous before a game like that. But tonight I was completely nervous.”

You would have never had known Gribbin felt pregame jitters by watching her performance against the Rams. Gribbin single handedly outscored the entire Gorham squad 20-13 in the first half.

“My shots just started falling right off and so I was just relieved,” she said. “It felt good to get it over with.”

When Gribbin reached the mark 55 seconds into the second half, the game was stopped by Windham Athletic Director Rich Drummond to celebrate her achievement. After receiving a game ball from Cummings and plaque from Drummond, Gribbin calmly walked across the court towards the Eagles’ supporters, walked up into the crowd and sought out her parents and best friends.

After exchanging hugs, Gribbin took to the court to finish out the remainder of the game leaving a still standing crowd waving signs reading ‘1,000.’

“I didn’t know they were going to do that,” said Gribbin in regards to the signs. “It was awesome. I couldn’t have asked for a better community from kids all the way from two years old, to my grandparents, and people I don’t even know will just come up to me. It’s really a community effort and everyone is behind us.”

It wasn’t just the milestone that drew the support for Gribbin; it’s who she is as a person.

“She’s given back to this community,” said Cummings. “She’s worked with those little kids on Saturday at the youth programs. She’s got a great personality and people love being around her.”

Moving forward, Gribbin needs just 31 points to Bennett’s career mark of 1,045.

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