Feb. 6—PROCTORVILLE — Records are made to be broken.
But could you at least wait until the ink in the record-book dried?
Fairland Lady Dragons All-Ohio senior guard Bailey Russell didn’t wait long before she set a new program scoring record.
Bree Allen broke the old school record held by Julie Curry in February of 2024.
But the honor and enjoyment of being that record-holder didn’t last a full two years.
After her 21-point performance against Coal Grove on Thursday, Russell has 1,634 points, which surpasses the total of 1,542 scored by Allen.
The Fairland boys all-time scoring leader is Aiden Porter with 1,690, a record he set in January of 2022.
Russell said with the help of her mother, she was able to remain aware of the milestone she was about to conquer.
“My mom has always kind of kept track of it and before the season, she talked how far away I was, so I was aware I was near the record,” said Russell. “It’s just an amazing feeling. The more I think about it and all the people I know who have come through the program it feels like a huge honor to be at the top of that and I couldn’t have done it without Bree (Allen), Tomi (Hinkle) and all the girls I’ve played with the last four years.”
Russell said getting the scoring record was something she began to dream about in middle school.
“This has always been a goal of mine. I’ve always thought about it. My main goal has always been to win a state championship, but I thought it was a great goal to have and to finally be able to reach it is an amazing feeling,” she said.
“Just knowing Bree, she has been saying I was going to break it since the night she broke it. We were doing an interview together. She broke it at Portsmouth Notre Dame. She was always ‘Bailey’s going to break it.’ Bree has been so amazing and so supportive,” said Russell.
Not only did Russell break Allen’s record, but she now has her sights set on the school’s all-time scoring record.
“It’s a goal, but I’m not trying not to think about it at all. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen,” said Russell. “I’m just trying to focus on our team and we play Portsmouth next week, we have some big games and the tournament coming up. If I play how I’m supposed to play and we keep winning, I’ll get it.”
Although Russell has had great success on the court, she has made the decision not to play at the college level —and focus on her education.
Russell wants to devote her time to becoming a doctor.
Fairland head coach Jon Buchanan said a lot of players who aren’t focused on playing basketball would slack off in some areas of their game.
He said Russell has not changed her focus in the classroom —or on the court.
“I will give Bailey credit. You don’t always see this with kids. Bailey always had aspirations of being a college basketball player and then decided she was not going to do that,” said Buchanan.
Russell has been accepted at Ohio State University, and she plans to begin her academic journey in the fall minus basketball.
Russell plans to be an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN).
Although she knows she’ll miss basketball, she is adamant in her decision.
“I’ve been thinking a lot more about it. The season is coming to an end and it’s been very hard, but I knew it was something, I don’t know what, but I didn’t want to play. I wanted my next four years’ focus to be very important. I knew it was the right decision not to play,” said Russell.
Buchanan said that Russell made the decision two years ago, and she has not wavered.
“She made the decision halfway through high school she was going to focus on school and not on basketball. The thing that makes her so interesting is that when kids change their mind, they lose focus and are not that focused on basketball and that part of their life.
“That hasn’t been the case with Bailey. She’s kind of doubled down. It’s like she’s not going to play basketball (in college), so I’m going to dig into these last couple of years because I want to maximize that last bit I do play.”
Russell knows it will be a bittersweet experience to attend college without being part of a team.
“I may join an intramural league, but I’m excited for my next chapter,” said Russell. “I think I’m going to be sad, but I think I’m going to be more sad about all my relationships. Even the coaching staff. I have a great personal relationship with everyone on the coaching staff. And this group of seniors I’ve played with for so long now and I got to play with my sister and it’s been so fun.”
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