Lay up after lay up, three pointers after three pointers. Roughly 500 baskets and four years later, senior Hali Hendrickson landed in the history books.

Hendrickson ended her junior year just three points shy of 1,000 points. There has only been one other girl (Pam Stoltz) from Albert Lea to reach this milestone.

Hendrickson knew that with hard work and determination she could be the second. Her first game back her senior year all the fans packed the gym full knowing there could be history made.

Every time she touched the ball the crowd would be cheering for her to shoot. Hendrickson’s first couple of shoots didn’t fall. Shortly into the second half Hendrickson pulled up at the 3 point line and drained it!

Amidst the hype and pressure, Hendrickson seemed to overcome it all. She was than focused and determined to become the lady Tigers all-time leading scorer and knew it wouldn’t take long to accomplish.

“She is really dedicated and very committed to basketball,” junior Heather Greibrok said. “She is a really fun and good player to have on your team, and I enjoy playing with her.”

Saturday Febuary 16th, a couple weeks after scoring her 1,000 point, Hendrickson knew that she could also become the all-time leading scorer as well.

The Tiger senior hit her first two 3-pointers and became the school’s all-time leading scorer. Hendrickson came into the game three points from tying the mark of 1,167 points set by Pam Stoltz and did so with her first 3 before breaking it with her next.

She finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds to record the double-double.

“It is truly impressive and is a credit to Hali for her hard work,” Head coach Karol Hansen said. “I give credit to the other girls on the team to because they create scoring chances for her and I think there is a mutual respect there between her and the team. We are finding better balance on the floor.”

Hendrickson started her high school basketball career as a true freshman and it didn’t take long for her to fit in. After the first couple practices, Hendrickson became one of the starting forwards. Ever since Hendrickson’s first game for the Tigers, she has led them in scoring. Hendrickson has averaged anywhere between 12 and 16 points per game over the years.

“She brings a spark to the team on the court, and when she’s off the court she’s almost like another coach,” junior Morgan Stadheim said. “She is always willing to help others and she knows a lot about the game.”

Hendrickson started playing basketball 13 years ago at the YMCA. Hendrickson’s favorite and most inspirational player has always been Allen Iverson, although she has learned a lot from her older sister Niki.

“When I was younger I would always look up to my sister and sometimes follow in her footsteps. As I got older she would help me work on different things and push me harder,” Hendrickson said.

The Hendrickson family has always been big into basketball, and that is what sparked Hali’s interest to join basketball. Both of Hali’s parents played, as did her sister.

“Everyone in my family played, which made me interested, but it also looked fun as well as the competition,” Hendrickson said.



Hendrickson has won many great achievements over the years. She has been named All-Conference every year and she was also named All-State Honorable Mention last season. When Hendrickson was in eighth grade her basketball team won the “eighth grade State.”

“Without all of my family and moral support I would not be where I am today,” Hendrickson said.

Another key to Hendrickson’s success has been playing in a summer basketball program. Hendrickson has been playing AAU basketball since sixth grade. AAU is a development program for the elite basketball players around the state. They split the state up into a couple sections and all the teams get to play each other a couple times throughout the summer. Also, each team participates in tournaments around the Midwest.

“AAU is a great program for high school basketball players because you get a chance to play against the best competition around,” Hendrickson said. Also, it is really fun to meet and get to play with other players you normally don’t get to play with.”

After high school Hendrickson plans to attend Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. She recently received a 75% scholarship. Moorhead State is a competitive Division II college. Hendrickson plans to jump right into the program and start right where she left off.