Step a-Sides for Middle’s new scoring queen

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Kira Sides did something Thursday afternoon that she rarely ever does — she missed a wide-open layup attempt.

But the next time she shot the ball, the Middle Township High School senior made history.

Sides sank a short jump shot from the top of the lane to reach 1,590 career points to become the school’s girls basketball program’s all-time leading scorer in a 59-10 victory over Buena.

Sides surpassed the record held for 35 years by 1985 graduate Jen Snyder-Legler, who was on hand to celebrate the accomplishment with the school’s new scoring queen.

Middle’s players and fans groaned and practically laughed in disbelief when Sides missed the layup chance that would have given her the milestone. Sides herself could do nothing but laugh about the miscue as well.

But on Middle’s next possession, those same people erupted in cheers when Sides sank the basket that further etched her name in the school’s athletic history.

The game was stopped for a brief ceremony. Players, coaches, cheerleaders, family members and Snyder-Legler joined Sides on the court as Sides was presented with flowers and a banner was unfurled to commemorate her accomplishment.

Sides, who is set to play Division I college lacrosse at LaSalle University, scored 30 points in the victory.

Lauryn Fields, a 2014 graduate of Middle, scored 1,692 career points. But Fields transferred into Middle after scoring approximately 300 points as a freshman at Cape May Tech

Middle improved to 20-5 with the win. The Lady Panthers are scheduled to finish the regular season with a game Friday at Red Bank Catholic.