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By Dana Harding
Springfield, MO — There was a buzz in the air prior to Thursday night’s clash between Greenwood and Pleasant Hope. While the Blue Jays controlled the game from the opening tip and ran away for a 68-36 victory, the evening’s story centered on an unassuming chase for the record book.
Blue Jay standout Julius Walker entered the game a mere 15 points shy of the school’s all-time scoring record of 2,047 points, set in 1982 by Anthony Frazier.
A Greenwood student since the second grade, the 6’4” senior didn’t make the boisterous home crowd wait long for the fireworks show.
The Blue Jays raced out early on the strength of a 25-8 first-quarter run. Walker was active early and often working from both high and low posts. With 11 of his game-high 23 points dropped in the opening frame, it didn’t take long for the crowd to realize history was just around the corner.
At 5:39 in the second quarter, a simple drive down the middle of the lane ended with a soft layup off the glass and a brand new record holder at Greenwood.
The game was paused briefly to recognize the achievement, and then the Blue Jays went back to work.
In the second quarter, a 20-6 Greenwood run stretched the lead to 30 and was led by Wes Bergen’s pinpoint shooting from beyond the arc.
The senior Bergen hit two of his five 3-pointers in the quarter and finished with 15 points on the evening. Bergen and Walker were joined in double figures by Tony Brandt’s 11 points.
While Greenwood’s offense certainly played a big role in the runaway win, the Blue Jay defense played an even bigger role.
Pleasant Hope standout Jordan Hillenburg was limited to 14 points in the game and only a pair of 3s in the first half.
“[Hillenburg] is an outstanding athlete,” Taylor said. “Any time you’re playing Pleasant Hope, I think that goal number one has to be limiting what he’s able to do early.”
Of course, when your team is firing on all cylinders during the regular season’s stretch run and led by an unselfish star, that certainly doesn’t hurt matters.
“Julius is outstanding at doing whatever he needs to do to help us win basketball games,” Taylor said. “He includes his teammates, and the way the rest of the team is playing right now really opens things up for Julius. We’ve had four and five people in double figures for several games.”
In an age where egocentric players seem to dominate the news cycle at most every level of sport, Walker is a refreshing throwback. Taylor summed up the weeks leading up to the two milestones (the 2,000-point barrier and the school record) as an absolute positive experience for the team, rather than a nagging distraction.
“I think the way Julius has handled it makes it a positive,” Taylor said. “He’s such a leader with his teammates, and his teammates respect what he’s done. Julius is so unassuming with the way he goes about his business that it really made it very easy.”
Echoing his coach’s words, Walker was quick to put the individual accolades into perspective.
“I haven’t really thought about [the scoring record] much,” Walker said. “I just kind of played, doing the same thing I always do; just trying to make the right basketball play. I’m not trying to break a record. I’m just trying to play basketball and win games.”
With some 61 wins bundled in with those 2,055 points, Walker and Greenwood are hoping to keep adding to both totals as the postseason approaches.
Pleasant Hope (5-12) gets a quick turnaround, hosting Stockton Friday, Feb. 10. Greenwood (20-3) wraps up the season with a home match against Hurley Thursday, Feb. 16.
Varsity final: Greenwood – 68, Pleasant Hope – 36
Greenwood 25 21 13 09 — 68
Pleasant Hope 08 12 14 02 — 36
Greenwood scoring: Julius Walker – 23, Wes Bergen – 15, Tony Brandt – 11, Joseph Brock – 8, Aki Coller – 4, John Sharp – 3, Garrett Litherland – 2, Garrett Nau – 2
Pleasant Hope scoring: Jordan Hillenburg – 14, Teagen Keck – 9, Michael Werland – 4, Damon Miles – 3, Hayden Aleshire – 2, Calvin Mitchell – 2, Chris Nibbelink – 2
Varsity girls final: Greenwood – 64, Hurley – 43
(Meredith Montgomery – 21 points)
JV boys final: Greenwood – 39, Pleasant Hope – 25
(Garrett Litherland – 17 points)
