Tarter joins 1,000-point club
Natalie Tarter has climbed the mountaintop in track and field.
And the senior achieved a milestone on the basketball court as well.
The defending class AA 300-meters hurdles champion broke a minor team rule and found herself in an unfamiliar spot - the bench - to start Batavia's makeup Western Sun Conference basketball game with DeKalb Wednesday night.
Despite the minor transgression she made the night a memorable one.
Tarter entered with 2:15 to play in the first quarter and made her presence immediately known. She scored 10 of her team-high 14 points in the first half to power the Bulldogs to the 45-39 victory.
She eclipsed the magical 1,000-point barrier with a driving baseline score with 4:34 remaining in the third period.
With 987 entering the game, she now has 1,001 career points.
"I really didn't know I was that close to it," said Tarter, a University of Wisconsin track recruit. "It felt good to get it at home."
Tarter shot 4 of 11 from the field and made all 6 of her free throws as the Bulldogs (12-2, 6-1) jumped out to a 23-21 lead at the break.
Tarter was elevated to the varsity for the Bulldogs' two regional games as a freshman. She became a fixture in the team's starting lineup at small forward her sophomore year. Questions about her ability to make the transition to basketball were quickly answered.
"I think initially she was a great athlete playing basketball," said Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker. "The biggest difference is that she knows how to use her athleticism and you really saw that tonight.
"They really could not guard her on the wing."
Tarter scored all of her field goals on the baseline and added 2 assists to center Becca Heimsath.
Tarter reached the brink with two free throws in the third quarter. Her slashing move down the right baseline completed her scoring.
"I consider myself to be a sports lover," said Tarter. "I wanted to come in and make up for the time (spent on the bench)."
Melissa Norville is also an elite runner on the Bulldogs' reigning state runner-up track team. She has seen Tarter's brilliance first hand on many occasions.
"To me (basketball) looks so easy to her," said Norville. "No one has her speed, either on our team or the teams we play against. It's exciting to have somebody like her on the team."
Liz Barnes' 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter gave Batavia a 36-27 lead. The Bulldogs limited the Barbs to just 18 second half points.
"You knew when (Tarter) came in she wasn't going to leave much for the rest of the game," said DeKalb coach Debbie Whitman. "I thought we expended a lot of energy coming back (from an early deficit)." Deyonna Dunigan scored 14 points to lead the Barbs (10-8, 4-3).