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Milledgeville hoopers inspired by basketball legend Caitlin Clark's success

Pierce Moore and Ellie Hargrove traveled to Iowa to watch Clark break the NCAA's all-time scoring record, previously held by Pete Maravich.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Caitlin Clark has gotten used to making history this season, and nobody knows that better than two of her biggest fans in Milledgeville, Georgia.

“It was a 10 out of 10 experience,” Pierce Moore said. “We had so much fun, even after the game, before the game. It was the best opportunity I think I've ever had.”

Last week, Pierce Moore and Ellie Hargrove, middle schoolers at John Milledge Academy, were surprised with a trip to an Iowa basketball game to celebrate Pierce's birthday. 

What was already a fun trip turned into the trip of a lifetime when they realized they were also about to see history.

“I'm not going to lie, we had just gotten back from the concession stand,” Ellie said. “But when we got back, we watched for a minute and saw that she was one point away, and she was on a free throw and the gym just went wild. It was amazing.”

The girls watched Clark break the NCAA's all-time scoring record -- previously held by Pete Maravich -- and then it got even better when they got her autograph.

“I got teary-eyed when they got her autograph,” Pierce’s mom, Kara, said. “The game grew closer and as I sat there and watched it. I watched her conduct herself and I watched them watch her and I watched them idolize her and set those goals. It really became even more.”

Because this year, Caitlin Clark isn't just re-writing the history books; she's also writing a new chapter for the future of the game.

“She shows us anything is possible on the court and off the court and you can do anything you put your mind to,” Pierce said.

“Watching her gives me some hope that maybe one day I'll be able to make it as far as her possibly,” Ellie said.

So could there be a few new Hawkeye fans in the Peach State?

“If you would've asked them two years ago if they would've considered going to Iowa for college they would've said, ‘Are you nuts?’” Kara said. “And now I think if you asked either one of them, ‘Hey, if you get into Iowa would you go?’ They would go and I would let them.”

Clark and the Hawkeyes are projected to be one of the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be revealed this Sunday.

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