Giada Costa Reaches 1,000 Points on Scranton’s Senior Night in Hard-Fought Battle
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | February 12, 2025 | Photo courtesy BL Sports Photography.com
SCRANTON – A night of celebration for Scranton’s seniors turned into a historic evening for Valley View’s Giada Costa as she surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in a highly competitive matchup. Despite Costa’s achievement, the Cougars came up short in a 51-45 loss to Scranton in their Lackawanna Division I regular-season finale
The atmosphere inside the gym was electric as Scranton honored its senior class, and the Lady Knights delivered with a strong performance behind Chrissy Jacklinski’s 17 points and 10 rebounds. Costa did her best to spoil the party, scoring 18 points while Cora Castellani added 11 for Valley View.
Second Quarter Shifts Momentum
The first quarter saw Valley View take a 13-11 lead, but Scranton took control in the second period. The Lady Knights outscored the Cougars 26-13 in the quarter, fueled by Jacklinski’s seven points, to enter halftime with a 37-26 advantage.
Valley View’s defense locked in during the second half, holding Scranton to just 14 total points after halftime and only five in the fourth quarter. However, despite the defensive stand, the Cougars couldn’t generate enough offensive momentum to complete the comeback.
Team and Shooting Stats
Valley View Team Stats:
• Field Goals: 14-of-39 (35.9%)
• Three-Pointers: 1-of-7 (14.3%)
• Free Throws: 16-of-22 (72.7%)
• Total Points: 45
• Second-Half Points: 19
Scranton Team Stats:
• Field Goals: 19-of-43 (44.2%)
• Three-Pointers: 5-of-11 (45.5%)
• Free Throws: 8-of-9 (88.9%)
• Total Points: 51
• Second-Half Points: 14
Individual Standout Performances
Valley View:
• Giada Costa: 18 points, 6-of-14 FG (42.9%), 6-of-8 FT (75%)
• Cora Castellani: 11 points, 2-of-7 FG (28.6%), 6-of-8 FT (75%), 1 three-pointer
• Daniella Ashby: 4 points, 2-of-5 FG (40%)
• Sadie Cardoni: 4 points, 2-of-4 FG (50%)
• Ava Gazoo: 3 points, 1-of-2 FG (50%)
• Maggie Pegula: 3 points, 1-of-3 FG (33.3%)
• Mady Minelli: 2 points, 2-of-2 FT (100%)
Scranton:
• Chrissy Jacklinski: 17 points, 6-of-10 FG (60%), 4-of-4 FT (100%), 10 rebounds
• Maggie O’Shea: 9 points, 3-of-5 FG (60%), 2 three-pointers
• Rhylee Bell: 8 points, 2-of-4 FG (50%), 2 three-pointers
• Jaelyn Alers: 6 points, 3-of-6 FG (50%)
• Catherine Hill: 4 points, 2-of-5 FG (40%)
• Eyinah Smith: 3 points, 1-of-1 FG (100%)
Senior Night and a Milestone to Remember
Scranton’s Senior Night was a special occasion filled with emotion, energy, and celebration for the Lady Knights’ graduating class. While the home team secured a hard-fought victory, Giada Costa’s 1,000th career point added another layer of significance to the night, as she became one of Valley View’s all-time scoring leaders.
As both teams now look ahead to the postseason, this game will be remembered not only for Scranton’s senior send-off but also for Costa’s milestone moment, marking an unforgettable chapter in her decorated high school career.
