Nathan Hale-Ray senior Mia Pisciotti hits scoring milestone

Senior guard scores 1,000 career point in final game

By Nicole Gamberale, Nathan Hale Ray High School

Mia Pisciotti, a senior at Nathan Hale-Ray High School, has made history for the school as her name is added to the 1,000-point club. Pisciotti scored 1,001 points in just a short two and half years of playing time for the Noises girls basketball team. The 5’ 8” guard had an incredible basketball season, being named first team all-conference.

Twenty-four years have come and gone since a female basketball player has scored 1,000 points. Pisciotti became the eighth female athlete to do so following the likes of: Donna Smith (1983), Sue Parker (1988), Cindy Ziobron (1989), Denise Allen (1990), Sherry Faircloth (1992), Christine Proctor (1996), and Shannon O’Donnell (2002).

After transferring to Mercy High School her sophomore year, Pisciotti returned to Hale-Ray ready to help lead her team to success. Head coach John Leavitt commented on Pisciotti’s positive impact, and how the team prides themselves on working hard.

Leavitt said Pisciotti “has taken our efforts to another level - arriving with incredible energy and a clear determination to push us to be better.”

“There is no secret to her success. It's all based on hard work. The team now takes pride in wearing our uniform and her dedication to her sport is a big part of that,” he said.

Although the Noises lost their Division 5 state semifinal game to CREC Academy of Science and Innovation on March 12, Pisciotti managed to make the loss a night to be remembered. In the last game of her high school basketball career, Pisciotti was fouled late in the fourth quarter, with 57 seconds left to play. Pisciotti took to the line to shoot two foul shots; it was on these shots that she earned her 1,000 and 1,001 points.

“It was the most stressful moment, but we all had faith that she would do it,” said classmate Lily Jahne, who was in the stands.

HR fans were prepared for Pisciotti’s success and packed the gym with posters displaying her name, number and photos. Fellow teammates, including co-senior captain, Colleen Hagerty, prepared posters for the bench.

“Mia’s put so much time into her training. From freshman year to now, Mia and our team’s work shows how much progress we’ve made and we wanted to be ready to show that,” she said. 

Officials blew their whistle to stop game play and announced Pisciotti’s accomplishment, awarding her the game ball. Pisciotti, unaware of how close she was to hitting 1,000 points, beamed.

“I couldn’t believe it. It was so exciting because I had no idea I was going to get it. I loved seeing all the posters fill the gym. It was a major highlight of this season,” she said.

Pisciotti had an incredible final season for the Noises averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 assists per game. In the state tournament, Pisciotti averaged a whopping 26 points per game. In the 2025-2026 season, she was top five in the state for her free throw percentage.

Hale-Ray ended their season with a 13-7 regular season and a 16-9 record overall. As the 2025-2026 basketball season comes to a close, Pisciotti reflected on the moments that got her here, commenting on her hard work and saying, “consistency is the most important thing.”

Pisciotti imparted some final words of encouragement for those who want to meet the same goal.

“Shoot every day and believe that every single shot you take is going in because every shot you take counts,” she said.