The swish of a basketball through the net can be a rewarding and welcoming sound for a player. For Pal-Mac Varsity Girls Basketball team member Taryn Goodness, that sound recently marked a major milestone in her career.

Goodness became the latest Pal-Mac basketball player to join the 1,000-point club when she sank a layup early in a game at Wayne High School on Jan. 10. She needed just four points to reach the mark and accomplished it a minute and a half into the game.

She joined her older brothers, Paulie (Class of 2022) and Ian (Class of 2023), in the club. All three achieved the milestone in their senior years. The previous 1,000 point scorer happened 22 years before Paulie reached the mark.

“Yeah, it was really nice,” Taryn said. “Watching both my brothers get it, and then me getting it—it’s a great feeling.”

Both Ian and Paulie attended the game, as they frequently do throughout the season. The game paused temporarily so Taryn’s teammates and family could celebrate with her on the court. The team presented her with a specially made plaque before play resumed.

Pal-Mac won the game, but the celebrations didn’t end there. Like Paulie, Taryn reached her milestone on the road, so Head Varsity Coach Dan Harris arranged a ceremony in front of the home crowd at Pal-Mac’s game against Rush-Henrietta on Jan. 15.

Taryn received a decorated basketball and once again joined her family and teammates on the court. Additionally, she was voted the Athlete of the Week by Democrat and Chronicle, receiving over 16,000 votes.

Paulie, now playing baseball at LeMoyne University, said over the phone that he was thrilled to see his sister’s hard work pay off as she capped the family’s unique contribution to school history.

“She’s a really hard worker, and I’m really proud of the basketball player and person she’s become,” Paulie said. “Seeing her excitement and how proud our family was made it really special.”

He credited their father, Nathan, with instilling the work ethic that led all three siblings to succeed on the court. Although Paulie stopped short of calling the 1,000-point mark a primary goal for the family, he admitted it became a challenge once he achieved it in early 2022.

Taryn noted that Paulie and Ian often offer encouragement or constructive feedback before and after her games. Paulie avoided saying much before her big game, wanting her to stay focused.

Regardless, Taryn appreciated her brothers’ dedication to supporting her success.

“They didn’t really mention any mistakes,” Taryn said. “They were just really supportive.”

Coach Harris echoed Paulie’s praise for Taryn’s work ethic and highlighted her unselfishness despite having the milestone on her mind.

He recalled a moment during Pal-Mac’s home game against Midlakes, just days before she reached 1,000 points. Harris observed that Taryn was pressing too hard to score, which she later admitted. During a timeout, he encouraged her to take a breath and refocus.

Soon after, instead of forcing a contested layup, Taryn passed to an open teammate, who drained a three-pointer that shifted the game’s momentum.

“Is she conscious of the milestone? Yes," Harris said. "Is she proud of the milestone? Most certainly. Is she deserving of the milestone? Absolutely!I don’t know that I’ve had a player work as hard as she has worked both in and out of season."

Taryn said her teammates supported her pursuit of 1,000 points while keeping the focus on winning. Balancing the two was challenging, but she managed.

“Going into Wayne, I just knew I had to play my normal game, and I knew I’d get it,” she said.

With the milestone behind her, Taryn is focused on helping her team achieve its season goals, which Harris said includes a run at the Finger Lakes League and Section V titles. But she hasn’t forgotten her personal ambitions.

"We’re just taking it one game at a time,” she said. “But I do have a personal goal to beat my brothers’ records.”

Paulie finished his Pal-Mac career with 1,093 points, while Ian scored 1,276. When asked, Taryn confidently declared herself the best basketball player in the family.

Paulie disagreed. but stopped short of crowning anyone the best. Even though he pursued an athletic career in baseball, he says he never put down the basketball. Ian also chose to pursue college baseball, as he competes for Finger Lakes Community College.

“I wouldn’t say that [she’s the best],” Paulie said with a laugh. “But I’m not surprised she said that.”

Whether she’s planning to take on her brothers in a game of pickup or tackle the next challenge with her team, those who know Taryn Goodness agree: she’s ready for it, swish and all.