Senior guard Josie Larson understands there’s a lot of season left to be played for Plano.
She’s also had a great career for the Reapers, amplified by setting the program’s scoring record.
Just don’t tell her that.
“It’s pretty cool, but I mean, it’s not a big deal,” Larson said. “When I’m done, I’ll look back at it and feel like it’s pretty cool, but I’m just trying to be in the moment and move on to the next game.”
Larson made all the right moves Monday night, scoring 25 points as host Plano pulled away for a 67-48 nonconference victory over Hinckley-Big Rock.
Senior point guard Sanai Young scored 13 points — all in the first half — for the Reapers (4-2). Chloe Rowe added 10 points and Nyla Mathews had nine.
Sami Carlino led Hinckley-Big Rock (2-1) with 18 points. Anna Herrmann added 11 points and Raven Wagner had eight.
Larson got off to a slow start Monday by her standards. She heated up at the right time, though, hitting a pair of 3-pointers as part of an 11-0 closing burst to end the first half after a 28-28 tie.
“They trust Josie, so they’ll get her the ball when she’s hot,” Plano coach Tristan Spivey said. “I told her to stay confident. The first quarter, she was kind of off. She can fill it up in a hurry.
“I took three points way from her with a timeout. It was one of my worst timeouts. When she gets going, she gets going.”
Larson did the same on Nov. 19 in a 50-25 win over LaSalle-Peru. She passed the program record of 1,038 career points previously established by Clarisa Martinez, a two-time all-state selection.
Hinckley-Big Rock hung around early Monday night, however. Despite having only seven players and a first-year head coach, the Royals were in it at the start.
“That’s a good team,” Hinckley-Big Rock coach Bob Barnett said. “I knew coming in that it was going to be real tough for us. But you know what, we stayed out there. We played.
“They got a little physical, and it took a toll on us.”
Spivey has seen Larson’s skills often in his three seasons as Plano’s coach. The former Aurora University player is only 28 years old, but he knows what he has in Larson.
“I feel really lucky,” Spivey said. “I’m young. I don’t know everything. To have her in my first three years, I feel lucky. She’s put in a lot of work. She gives a great example for Plano.”
In the second quarter, Larson put all of her skills on display. She had three assists, a steal, a blocked shot, a rebound and also scored nine points.
“I think it helps out a lot, especially what we need in the moment,” Larson said of her versatility. “I think all the girls, they do what they’re asked of them. I feel like that’s really important — for everybody to play their part. Whether it’s to score, rebound, play defense.
“I like being the leader. Younger girls look up to me. Being that role model is great.”
Spivey knows he can ask Larson to do whatever he needs her to do on the court.
“If I asked her to get 20 rebounds, she’d get 20 rebounds,” Spivey said. “I happen to ask her to score because she’s good at it. All the girls know, if we get Josie the ball, we’ll all get going.”
The Reapers have never won a sectional title and haven’t won a regional since the 2005-06 season. They haven’t been over .500 since the 2018-19 season.
Larson is on a mission to change that.
“We’ve had some really good games,” Larson said. “We’re starting to get into our groove and keep improving. I feel like this season will be something. We’ll go further than we ever have before.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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