Titus’ 1,000th point a ‘Family Affair’

Family Affair was a hit song recorded by Sly and The Family Stone back in the 1970s.

It could also have been the theme for Emily Titus and the Tamaqua basketball program Saturday night at Martz Hall in Pottsville.

Playing against Wilson in the quarterfinal round of the District 11 Class 4A playoffs, Titus elevated her prodigious hoop career to the level that she aspired to since her days in elementary school.

When Emily tickled the twines with a three-point field goal midway through the fourth quarter, she became the 29th basketball player in Tamaqua High School history to reach the 1,000 career point mark. She also became the third member of her immediate family to reach that milestone at Tamaqua — joining father Ed Titus and aunt Lynne Titus.

The Titus family legacy started Lynne, who now resides in the Reading Area and was on hand to see Emily’s moment. She was the first-ever Tamaqua girl to score over 1,000 points. Playing for Karen Sheetz at the time, Lynne posted 1,426 points during her career (1974-1978).

Her dad Ed was next. As pure a player as any could find, Ed would score 1,537 points in a career (1981-84) that included a PIAA Class 3A state final appearance. He would go on to earn a Division I scholarship to Rider University in New Jersey.

With that type of family linage, it’s not a surprise that Emily knew from an early age that basketball would play a big role in her life.

“You know ever since I was in the fourth or fifth grade, I would come to games and think about playing,” Emily said after Saturday’s victory over Wilson. “Now, to be able to win this big game and also score my 1,000th point means so much. My dad and my aunt doing it makes it even more special.”

Emily’s dad has been by her side since her early years of playing basketball, instructing, teaching and coaching her.

“This is so very special,” said Ed, who serves as an assistant coach on the current Tamaqua girls staff. “We’ve kept it in the family … my sister Lynne doing it, myself and now my daughter. I can’t ask for anything more. This is the ultimate — and the fact that I’ve been able to help coach her makes this that much more special.”

Despite the milestone being within reach during Saturday’s game, Emily wasn’t worried about her point total. She was more worried about winning the game against Wilson. At one point, Emily turned to her dad and said she could wait for the next game.

“That’s so much like Emily,” said Tamaqua head coach Erika Davis.

Davis knows a little about scoring herself. A superb player at Tamaqua, Davis is the school’s all-time leading scorer among both boys and girls at the schoo with 2,317 points. Davis went on to play college basketball at Susquehanna University and now has returned to her alma mater to coach.

“I watched Emily growing up and she was always a gym rat,” Davis said. “She worked hard to get to reach this level.

“You know after I scored 1,000 points and then 2,000, it never really struck me until years later. And I’m sure the way Emily is. It may take a few years to sink in and until she can fully appreciate what she accomplished.”

Although Emily has always been a player who puts the team first, she did admit that the individual honor she just achieved has been something that she always dreamed about.

“It’s overwhelming,” she said. “It is such an awesome feeling. Yes, I did think about it when I was a kid coming to the games and seeing the banner (with the names of 1,000-point scorers) and thinking to myself it would be nice someday to have my name up on the wall.”

And now that thought has become a reality.

Sly and The Family Stone sang about Family Affair years ago. Now Lynne, Eddie and Emily Titus have created a Tamaqua basketball version of that theme.