LYNN — Like father, like daughter.
Once Engelyz Bingham, the leading scorer of Lynn Tech’s girls basketball team, drove to her right and banked in a layup during Monday night’s win against Nashoba Regional, history was made.
She joined her father, Corey, a former Lynn Tech hoopster and the current boys basketball coach, in the 1,000-point club.
Call it 2,000 points (and counting) for the duo.
“It’s a blessing for both of us,” said Corey, who checked off the box in 2005. “She put in a lot of hard work, a lot of shots, and a lot of AAU nights.”
Members of the crowd went wild for Engelyz, who received hugs from her teammates as the game was put on hold.
“I feel like there was a sense of relief because it’s been on my mind for a long time,” she said. “I’ve been waiting my whole basketball career to accomplish what I did that day. At school, people have been very supportive and so happy for me.”
Luckily for Corey, his boys team didn’t have a game Monday. He said the moment was “amazing” and that he couldn’t have been more proud.
In fact, it brought him back to when Engelyz was in fourth grade and decided to give the sport a try.
“I’ll never forget that day. I was the type of dad who didn’t want her to do anything she didn’t want to do, so when she came home and said she was going to try out for the team, me being a basketball player, I was ecstatic.” said Corey, who coached his daughter from fourth grade until 10th grade. “She hasn’t stopped dribbling the ball since.”
When asked if he remembers the night he netted his 1,000th point, Corey was quick to talk about the home game against Tyngsborough.
“Jamaal Boyd threw me an alley-oop off the glass,” he said. “Of course I remember it.”
From early-morning workouts to late-night jumpers, it’s been quite the journey for the Bingham duo, who both gave a special thanks to Engelyz’s mother, Rosa Bingham.
Corey said basketball has only made the father-daughter relationship stronger.
“I always work her out and we go to the gym, go to the park,” Corey said. “I always told her that it (basketball) doesn’t make or break our relationship – she’s my daughter, regardless. Her just stepping in the footsteps of a Bingham athlete is amazing. Hopefully, she gets to do it in college.”
And when that many baskets are part of the family, one has to wonder about similarities between their games.
“Driving to the hoop and also being a team player,” Engelyz said.
Corey agreed, adding they both try to be three-level scorers.
What made him proud Monday night, however, was how Engelyz let the game come to her.
“She’s a team player first,” Corey said. “She got 1,000 points, but in that game, she still passed the ball to the open teammate and let the game come to her.”
But when Engelyz saw that lane to the basket, history was made for only the fourth female to accomplish the feat in Tech history.
“We are so proud of ‘Engy’ for all of her dedication and hard work that has gotten her to this point,” said girls basketball coach Kaitlyn Wechsler, who also helms the boys and girls volleyball teams. “We cannot wait to see how she finishes off her career. She will forever leave a lasting legacy at Lynn Tech. Congratulations to her teammates as well, who have all played a critical part in helping her reach this amazing milestone.”
Now, it’s time to update the banner inside of the T. O’Connor Gymnasium in the Jack Barry Field House. Not one, but two Binghams.
“Hopefully, another father and daughter see this and try to accomplish it as well,” Corey said.
“It’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” Engelyz said.
