Hailey Roux scores 1,000th career point in Healdsburg’s 57-37 victory against Petaluma

HEALDSBURG - It wasn’t a pivot move around a defender in the post that Healdsburg’s Hailey Roux scored her 1,000th career point.

No, the Greyhounds senior caught a fast-break pass from longtime teammate and fellow senior Grace Pillinini and hit the milestone on a layup without a single defender in sight.

Roux passed the 1,000-point mark in the Healdsburg girls basketball team’s 57-37 win over Petaluma on Wednesday night.

The win was also the first Greyhounds’ victory against the Trojans in four years.

“This is amazing,” Roux said in the aftermath of the win. “This all just feels so good.”

The Greyhounds trailed by six points at the end of the first quarter and Roux had yet to crack a smile. A burst of seven points from the Greyhounds forward, and Healdsburg led by three at halftime.

Only then did Roux smile.

“I didn’t want to burst her bubble because she thought she hit 1,000 before halftime,” Healdsburg coach Jimmy Gonnella said.

“She knew where she was at, and the team knew where she was at,” he said, “but I wouldn’t say there was any pressure on her.”

It was the third quarter when Pillinini snagged her first of two total rebounds, turned around, and without hesitation chucked the ball upcourt to Roux, who was well on her way to the basket and 1,000.

“She just looked up and caught it,” Pillinini said. “We’ve been playing together forever so we always know where we are on the court.”

Pillinini finished with 12 points. Roux, who scored 20 on Wednesday night, credited her teammate for her success in a Greyhounds jersey.

“Whatever points I have gotten, she’s gotten all of my assists,” Roux said. “I couldn’t have done it without her.”

The Greyhounds’ win over Petaluma was exactly what the 15-2 team needed to get back in the win column, and with Roux to rally around, the Greyhounds had multiple reasons to celebrate at the buzzer.

Finally beating the Trojans after three years on varsity was equally sweet for both Pillinini and Roux.

“We took a tough loss on Friday night against Analy,” Gonnella said, “so this was nice to see how the kids bounced back.”

Gonnella said that seeing such a huge accomplishment is a rallying point for the Greyhounds, especially for younger players who are on their feet watching their?teammate.

“It’s like the guys on the bench watching Steph Curry,” he said of the Golden State Warriors’ point guard. “They’re all jumping up and down watching him score points.”

Junior Keely Bullock added 13 points, 13 assists and three blocks to help boost Healdsburg.

Coaching Roux is a pleasure, Gonnella said, because she just comes to play and doesn’t argue.

“She’s a special kid,” he said. “She’s one of those players you only get every four or five years. At the end of the year, you just want the absolute best for them.”

With a 15-2 overall record and 4-1 in the Sonoma County League, the Greyhounds know there’s still work to be done as they move forward.

“If we work on our defense,” Pillinini said, “our defense will follow.”

The Greyhounds travel to Sonoma Valley on Saturday to face the Dragons for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Trojans senior Olivia Baldwin led Petaluma with 16 points.

The Trojans dropped to 4-14 overall and 2-3 in the SCL.

Petaluma hosts Elsie Allen at 7:30 p.m. Friday.