Miranda's timing on for Avon

Avon's Kevin Miranda acknowledges the crowd, in front of coach Rich Gifford. (BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF)

Avon guard Kevin Miranda needed 17 points to become the 53d player in Massachusetts high school basketball history to score 2,000 points. He probably could have reached the milestone in the first three minutes of the Panthers' 91-52 Mayflower League win over Bristol Aggie last night at Avon, but there was a slight problem: His mother, Maria, was not yet in attendance.

Rich Gifford, a self-professed hard-nosed coach, then broke all his own rules. He slowed down the offense, told Miranda to stop shooting, and called two timeouts in the first half, allowing Miranda to call his mother, who was on her way from work at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. During the second timeout, Gifford ran outside and escorted Maria into the gymnasium.

She made it just in time, as her son buried a 3-pointer from the right baseline with 10:22 remaining in the half to reach 2,000. Miranda finished with 31 points -- all in the first half -- on 10-for-18 shooting (7 of 14 from 3-point range) and added 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.

He is 49th on the state's all-time scoring list with 2,014 career points. Rebecca Lobo (Southwick, 1987-91) is top scorer with 2,710.

"I just found out about it yesterday," said Miranda, whose team improved to 17-1. "I'm proud. It's just hard work and dedication. It feels so good, but the next thing is the state tournament. Our goal is working hard at practice and getting ready to go to the state tournament."

Miranda, who broke Julius Hood's school record of 1,975 points, scored Avon's first 14 last night.

"He's got the quickest release of any kid I've ever seen," Gifford said. "He gets it and loads it as quick as anyone I've ever seen."

Gifford said he tries to be a father figure for Miranda, who doesn't live with his biological father. Miranda was cut by Gifford in seventh grade, then played junior varsity as an eighth-grader. Gifford was emotional after the game, saying everything is coming together for his captain.

"Today is a great night for him," said Gifford. "If we have a chance to go deep in the Division 4 tournament, that's great. But my proudest day will be when he walks across that stage and graduates."

Sophomore Akeem Williams finished with 26 points. He has 892 for his career, and Gifford said he's changed his policy on milestones.

"That'll be my new rule," he said. "If you get to 2,000 points, and you want to check if your parents are in the building, you can make the call."

Boston City: Sophomore Shabazz Napien scored 20 points and senior Lance Greene had 15 points and 11 rebounds as No. 15 Charlestown turned back Latin Academy, 79-74.

Tri-Valley: Senior guard Scott Picard led Ashland to a 70-56 win over Medway with 31 points, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Cape Ann: Alison VanLathem hit two free throws with seven seconds left to give North Reading a 47-46 win over North Andover. Stephanie Mayne led the winners with 22 points.

Dual County: Carolyn Swords scored 22 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury's 60-20 win over Wayland.

Tri-Valley: Dick Buss earned his 300th win at Hopkinton as the Hillers defeated Medfield, 62-57.

Catholic Central: Derek Fitzpatrick scored the winner with just less than two minutes left in No. 8 Austin Prep's 4-3 win over No. 15 St. Mary's. The win gave the Cougars (11-2-2) the league championship.

Globe correspondent Conor Nevins contributed to this report.