Road to 1000 - By Jace Woodard

 

Editor's Note: Last week, Josh Woodard scored his career 1000th point for the Bomber basketball program– making him the third Bomber this year to hit the mark (Kylee Fox, Maggie Smith). Jace sat down with Josh prior to his accomplishment of scoring 1000 points.

    The 1000 career mark is the ultimate goal for any high school basketball player and is an extremely rare experience for players. The goal is to score 1000 points over a four-year high school basketball career. Richland basketball player Josh Woodard is on the road to 1000 career varsity points as a Bomber basketball player. Josh has scored 842 points in his varsity career thus far and is only 158 points away from 1000 career points. With half a season left, it looks like Josh is on the road to 1000 points in only his junior year. 

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    High school basketball players who have scored 1000 points don't come around often. Players don't just score 1000 by accident. There is a lot of work that goes into it. Players that have scored 1000 have proved that they are very talented. They consistently get the full focus of the defense and still have to put the ball in the basket. To score 1000, a player must be a consistent scorer for three or maybe two years. You also have to stay healthy through every season and cannot miss games. Countless amount of hours get put in by these types of players. When talking with Josh, he says that he has put in the work, and that is why he is in the position that he is in right now. He says he has spent many hours on the shooting machine and lots of time and practice perfecting his shot and ways to get advantages on the court. 

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    For a player to score 1000 points over a 4-year 80-game varsity carrier, a player must average 12.5 points per game. While this does not sound as extravagant as some think, this is consistent scoring. It's consistent over four years. Josh is completing this task on team-oriented fives in only three years. This means that Josh has had to average at least 16.5 points per game, not including playoffs, while playing for a team where all five players on the court at all times can score the ball. If you watch the bombers, you know that Josh is definitely not the only guy in the gym who can score. Josh says that his consistent scoring comes from his confidence on the court. Josh is always looking for ways to put the ball in the basket, whether that comes from him shooting or passing for an assist. Josh is just trying to give the bombers some buckets. Josh knows what he is capable of doing on the basketball court and is not afraid to show opponents what he can do. All of this is what makes Josh a bucket.

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    Josh has put up some great numbers in previous years, allowing him to break the 1000 mark in just his junior season, making the feat all the more impressive. In Josh's freshman season, he put up 249 total points, with his high of the year being 23 this was all in the regular season, too, because there was no postseason due to covid. In his sophomore year, he dropped 399 points with a high of 28. In this season alone, he has scored 194 points averaging 17.6 points per game, scoring a high of 24. With half the season not played yet, the 158 points needed for Josh might not be so far away. 

    Josh says that while it is very exciting to be this close to 1000 points. Josh also points out that 1000 points has always been a goal for him. But he says his focus is not on getting 1000. His focus is set on doing what it takes for the Bombers to win. Josh says he focuses on doing his job every game to ultimately help the Bombers win. He says, "the 1000 will come when it does, but I care more about the Bombers winning." Josh points out that a Bomber win is always more important than any indavisual stats.

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    The 1000 career mark is the ultimate goal for any high school basketball player. I wish Josh the best, and look forward to him scoring more than 1000 points. He has big things ahead of him. I expect everyone reading this to be at the playoff games, where Josh puts an exclamation point on his junior year with add more to the already huge accomplishment of 1000 career points.