Audenried’s Shayla Smith becomes the city’s all-time scoring leader in PIAA playoff loss to Neumann Goretti
Smith scored 38 points, but the Rockets lost to the Saints in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals. Maureece Rice, who had 2,681 career points for Strawberry Mansion, was the previous record-holder.
Audenried's Shayla Smith (left) shoots over Amya Scott of Neumann Goretti in the first half of the PIAA Class 4A semifinals on Saturday. Smith broke the city scoring record, but the Saints won to advance to the finals.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried’s Shayla Smith became the city’s all-time scoring leader — in girls’ and boys’ high school basketball — Saturday after scoring 38 points in a 61-52 loss to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals at St. Joseph’s Prep.
She entered Saturday with 2,652 total career points and needed to score 30 to surpass the previous record holder Maureece Rice, who had 2,681 career points for Strawberry Mansion from 2000 to 2003. Rice, 41, went on to play at George Washington University, in the NBA D-League, and overseas.
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Amya Scott, left, of Neumann Goretti goes up for a shot against Ikera Ellison of Audenreid in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Shayla Smith, left, shoots over Amya Scott of Neumann Goretti in the first half. Smith broke the all-time scoring record formerly held by Strawberry Mansion star Maureece Rice’s with all-time 2,681 career points. Audenreid lost to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Shayla Smith blocks a shot by Neumann Goretti's Carryn Easley. Smith broke the all-time scoring record formerly held by Strawberry Mansion star Maureece Rice’s with all-time 2,681 career points. Audenreid lost to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Inyanna Ellison, center, of Audenrie has the ball knocked away by Amaya Scorr, left, and Carryn Easley of Neumann Goretti after their victory over Audenreid in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Shayla Smith, right, is congratulated by treammates after she broke the all-time scoring record formerly held by Strawberry Mansion star Maureece Rice’s with all-time 2,681 career points. Audenreid lost to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Nasiaah Russell reacts to missing a shot against Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Shayla Smith slumps over late in their loss to Neumann Goretti. Smith broke the all-time scoring record formerly held by Strawberry Mansion star Maureece Rice’s with all-time 2,681 career points. Audenreid lost to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Kevin Slaughter of Audenreid is given a hug by Coach Andrea Peterson of Neumann Goretti after the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Audenried's Shayla Smith walks off the court as Neumann Goretti celebrates in the background. Smith broke the all-time scoring record formerly held by Strawberry Mansion star Maureece Rice’s with all-time 2,681 career points. Audenreid lost to Neumann Goretti in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Neumann Goretti team incluiding Amya Scott, center, celebrate after their victory over Audenreid in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Neumann Goretti team incluiding Amya Scott, center, celebrate after their victory over Audenreid in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Carryn Easley is hugged by her father, Montrell as the Neumann Goretti team celebrates after their victory over Audenreid in the PIAA 4A semifinals at St. Joe's Prep on March 22, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Smith hit the 30-point mark in the third quarter to cut the Rockets’ deficit to seven. She scored the Rockets’ first nine points and finished the first half with 18.
Neumann Goretti scored 26 points in the second quarter to carry a 39-23 lead into halftime. Following Audenried’s 25-point third quarter, the Saints held the Rockets to just four points in the final quarter. Neumann Goretti will face Lansdale Catholic in the PIAA Class 4A final on March 29 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
As for Smith, her high school career officially comes to a close. The Penn State-bound senior, who has led the Rockets to three consecutive Public League championships, eclipsed the girls’ scoring record on Feb. 13, when she scored 47 points in the Public League quarterfinals against Engineering and Science. Shawnetta Stewart (2,501) of University City had held the girls’ record since 1996.
