It’s January 15 2026 and history is in the making, specifically Cross Schools’ history.
The Lady Stingrays are at home in a matchup against Coastal Homeschool. The score is seven-six with roughly two minutes left in the second quarter. Reyannah Maldonado grabs a rebound and passes it to Sydney Hollings. Sydney on a fast break finds Ryan and Ryan takes a dribble and shoots a floater. The score changes to nine-six and the crowd erupts with cheers. Ryan becomes the first player in Cross Schools history to score 1000 varsity career points, a prestigious and career-defining moment.
Rudy Santana interviewed Ryan about her basketball career, her nomination as regional player of the year and her thoughts on nearing the end of her high school basketball career.
RS: What made you start playing basketball?
RM: I was young, maybe three-years-old and as my older brothers played, I grew up watching them, so I started to play too. I was a girl so they wouldn’t let me join them. My dad encouraged me and by the time I was six- or seven-years-old I was on a Rec Center team. It helped that my step dad coached at the Rec Center.
RS: What or who has built the path for how you play today and lead you to your 1000 point mark?
RM: I had fun playing as a child and kept playing as a middle schooler in seventh and eighth grade at McCraken Middle School. My step dad was always my coach.
RS: What was the moment like for you when you made the 1000 point mark?
RM: Awkward! As everyone cheered I wondered “What do I do now?”Coach Shaw stopped the game and took [Coaches came out with a bouquet of balloons and commemorative 1000-point basketball]. Everyone took pictures of me with my mom and dad who were there.
RS: How have you adjusted to the many different coaches throughout your varsity career and still manage to hit your 1000-point milestone?
RM: Many different coaches obviously have different coaching styles. I learned different offences and defences and it is not a problem learning these different plays and formations; it becomes a problem when strategies differ. I never thought I would get it, but a possibility just before Xmas break started to develop and Mrs Hollings said I should aim for it by the end of January 2026. That was when it started to become a reality.
RS: What does it mean to you to be the first player in school history to hit this milestone?
RM:It feels special. Once I decided it was achievable, I had to work harder, show up at every practice and give 100 percent to the sport. Whether practising or playing, it meant going for every ball. In the last few games as the points added up and neared 1000, the team decided to constantly feed me the ball, creating more opportunities with many assists.
RS: What are your plans for when your senior season is over?
RM:It’s not over! [Varsity girls made it to the State Championship finals this year].
RS: Do you think you would be the person you are today without basketball? Why or why not?
RM:From a young age, basketball has always been around me. I think I would not have the same passion for another sport, although I love softball. Basketball seems to make sense, and just like for volleyball where there are 1000 kills or assists, going for 1000 points just made sense to me.
