Wissahickon senior Chase Wilson surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in Monday's overtime win over Perkiomen Valley.
By Mary Jane Souder
Chase Wilson had no idea he was 22 points away from the 1,000-point milestone entering Monday’s non-league game against Perkiomen Valley.
“Earlier in the week, I thought my mom said something that I was close, but then she said, ‘Never mind, I think they counted wrong,’” Wilson said. “I had no clue.”
Even if he had, that would have been the last thing on his mind. Wissahickon’s senior captain had a singular thought going into a contest that had district playoff implications.
“I went into the game thinking – ‘We have to get this win regardless. If I have to put the team on my shoulders, I have no problem doing it,’” he said.
The Trojans won a wild game that saw them score four points in the closing seconds to extend the game to OT where they eked out a 79-77 win over the Vikings.
For good measure, Wilson buried a three-pointer in the third quarter that vaulted him to the historic milestone.
“We shot a three, and Jared Reed grabbed the rebound,” coach Kyle Wilson said. “As the defense collapsed on him, he kicked it back out and Chase was wide open and hit a three.”
The Trojans called a timeout at the next dead ball, and the game ball was presented to Wilson, who – in turn – presented it to his mother. He is just the eighth male basketball player at Wissahickon to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
“It’s special,” Chase said. “I’m truly blessed to be on that banner because there’s not a lot of people who make it.
“I’ve worked hard to get it, but I’m not done yet. I’m happy, but I’m not satisfied or settling for it.”
Wilson finished the game with 30 points, which included six three-pointers.
“It’s really been a treat to watch him develop as a young man and captain for us the last two years,” Kyle Wilson said of his son. “It’s special. I know I’ll probably appreciate it more when it’s all done, but every now and then, I try and take a step back to admire what he’s done as a young man and worked hard to achieve. He really has come a long way.”
An interesting sidenote to the game was the fact that it pitted Wilson against his cousin and AAU teammate Purnell Wilson. The two players mirror each other. While Chase averages 16.8 points a game, Purnell – also a point guard - brought a 17.2 average into the game.
Chase surpassed his average with 17 first-half points while Purnell had 15, which included three three-point baskets. Purnell finished with a game-high 34 points that included a 17-for-22 effort at the foul line.
“He put on a show,” Chase said. “He came out and hit his three’s, and I was joking with him – ‘Why couldn’t you do that when I was on your team?’
“It was definitely very fun. There was more trash talking between me and him than I did the entire season. It wasn’t really trash talking, but you could tell we were joking with each other, having a good time. Yet at the same time it was very competitive.
“It was a crazy game. I texted my cousin after the game, and I said to him – ‘You know I love you. That was the craziest game. It just sucks that one of us had to end up losing.’ I know both of us wanted to win that game badly.”
Monday’s game almost didn’t happen – it was twice postponed because of snow. Both teams knew their playoff hopes could hinge on the outcome.
“On top of that where Chase was with the thousand points – if we go one game short, he might finish with 990 points, and that would be a shame,” Kyle Wilson said. “I did everything I could to get the game scheduled.
“I’d seen my nephew play a couple of times this year, and I thought it would be neat to play the last game against them. Leading up to it, my fear was – if we don’t win, we won’t get in the playoffs. I was sweating it out all day.
“My nephew was knocking down three’s and I was very proud of him, but the whole time I’m thinking, ‘He’s going to knock us out of the playoffs.’ It was a great game but very stressful.”
The win vaulted the Trojans into the district playoffs. Perk Valley did not advance. It will be the final postseason run for Chase Wilson and his father.
“It’s very different,” he said of playing for his father. “There are times in the game you want to say something like, ‘Yo, dad, do this,’ but at the same time, as leader and captain of the team, I have to keep my composure and know he’s my coach. He’s not my dad right now.
“At the end of the game when we get home, he can praise me, but during the game, he coaches me. I expect him to treat me the way he treats the other players.”
“It’s my professional job,” Kyle Wilson said. “I have to treat him like the other 11 guys on the team. You watch a parent in the stands jump up and down and celebrate when their kid does something well. I’ve got to treat him like I do all the other players.
“He thank goodness understands it, and after games, I’ll praise him. It was a unique experience because we found over the years – once we leave, let’s not focus on basketball. We’ve never been two people to carry it beyond the gymnasium.”
On Monday night, both father and son had reason to be proud and celebrate.
- Log in to post comments
