By JOE SCALZO

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Maria was a cheerleader (although she doesn't want people to know) and Willie was a basketball star. Both went to school in Louisiana.
They fell in love, got married and had a baby girl named Amber. Amber grew up and fell in love with basketball.
Willie, a former Youngstown Pride standout, was her coach growing up -- he provided the physical tools. Maria was her rock -- she provided the mental toughness. Boardman was her home -- it provided the team, the fan support and the stage.
It's the story of what happens when everything comes together just right and a star is born.
Tuesday just provided the latest chapter.
Boardman senior Amber Bland started the night needing 25 points against Fitch to become the second area girls basketball player to reach 2,000 career points.
She started the second half needing three.
Reaching the mark
Then, 43 seconds into the third quarter, Bland came off a double screen, caught a pass from junior guard Brittany Sirak and set herself about a foot behind the 3-point line.
"I was thinking, 'I have to shoot this 3 or coach will kill me,' " Bland said with a laugh. "I figured, what can I lose?"
The shot went in, the crowd went up and Sirak ran over, jumping into Bland's arms as her teammates surrounded her.
"Brittany just yelled at me, 'Amber, you'd better catch me,' " Bland said.
And Willie and Maria stood up from their sideline seats, smiled and walked to center court where Amber was presented with flowers, balloons and a basket of cookies.
"I was like, 'Oh my gosh, she did it,' " Maria said. "I'm still impressed every time I watch her. Her dad was not that good, and he knows it."
Sirak said the play was set up at halftime, designed to give Bland a chance to reach the milestone quickly.
"We just wanted her to get it so bad, and when she did I just went crazy," Sirak said. "It's something to remember forever.
"She deserves it."
Looking ahead
Bland finished with 31 points -- she left the game minutes later with the Spartans ahead 51-8 -- and six rebounds as Boardman won 84-28 in the first round of the Federal League tournament.
Sirak added 18 points and eight steals for the Spartans, who will play host to Canton McKinley in a second-round game Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Bland needs 108 points to match the area record of 2,114 points, set by Canfield's Jenny Kulics. Kulics, who played from 1988-92, ranks 25th in Ohio history and is the only other area player to reach 2,000.
Marlene Stollings of Beaver Eastern (1989-1993) holds the state record with 3,514. She is the only Ohio player to pass 3,000.
scalzo@vindy.com