It has been a milestone year for the FWCD basketball program as both senior Canaan Factor ’26 and junior Ryleigh Hall ’27 scored their 1,000th career point.
The first to reach this mark was Factor, who made his 1,000th point during an away game against Lipian Highschool. At the time, Factor wasn’t aware of his accomplishment.
“It was at the beginning of an away game, so I wasn’t even thinking about it,” Factor said. “I thought I was going to get it the game before, so I was just two points away [during] the game [in which] I actually got it,” Factor said.
When asked what he was thinking after scoring, he said he was thinking about Coach Szabo.
“All I remember was him yelling at me to get back on defense,” Factor said.
Factor, who has been playing all his life, wanted to credit his successes to his teammates and the consistency he put in at the gym, working on his craft.
After the game ended, his teammates and coaches celebrated with him all jumping on him.
Looking ahead, however, the main goal for the Falcons is to “WIN SPC,” Factor said. He also gave credit to his “main man,” Reed Haven ’27, for getting the assist on the basket that earned this milestone.
While Factor doesn’t plan on playing basketball at the collegiate level, he will be playing football at Trinity University in San Antonio, and finishing out his senior year with track and field.
A few weeks later, Hall reached the milestone as a junior, making her mark on the girls basketball program.
Hall scored against Oakridge. Unlike her sister, Reagan Hall ’25 who celebrated after her first career three, Ryleigh kept her emotions in check after completing this milestone.
“I remembered my coach telling my sister to ‘act like you’ve done it before,’ when she scored her first career three pointer, so when I hit my 1,000 points, I did. I was cool as a cucumber,” Hall said.
Hall knew this was a big accomplishment and knew she was close but didn’t expect to reach 1,000 points during that game.
“I was confused why so many important people to me were there,” Hall said.
After the game was over, she started reflecting on how far she has come and inspiration she’s gotten from people she looks up to, especially Leta Andrews.
Leta Andrews is a retired coach who is recognized as the winningest high school coach ever, who is also inducted into multiple halls of fame and has said very inspirational things over the years that Hall looks up to.
“I thought of my parents and all of their support, Leta Andrews and her words of wisdom, and freshman me,” Hall said. “I remember thinking, nobody is ready for the beast of an athlete I am becoming.”
Hall has played basketball for 12 years, starting when she was five years old. The hardest part of getting this far has been the physical wear and tear her body has taken.
“Being the biggest person on the court doesn’t make it easier. I get beat up and thrown around without whistles blown, and playing three other sports doesn’t make it better,” Hall said.
Hall’s favorite moment from the season happened during practice.
“Coach [Shelley] Rains schooling us, per usual, and Amelia [Dickerson ’26] being confused when Coach Rains hit a no-look three,” Hall said.
After scoring her 1,000th point, her teammate’s reactions were amazing.
“Liz [Elizabeth Rooker ’27] kept hitting me and hugging me and there were lots of hugs going around,” Hall said.
She keeps adding to her accomplishments and recently earned 200 career blocks. Her next goal is making 1000 rebounds. She is currently at 969.
Even though basketball has a special place in her heart, Hall is planning to pursue her softball career post-high school at Stephen F. Austin State University, where older sister Reagan is on the team.
Reagan was also a three sport athlete playing volleyball, basketball and softball.
With both players leaving their marks on the FWCD basketball programs, one will end their campaign this year, while the other continues to create her legacy.
