Staff Writer
LIMESTONE – The Easton boy’s basketball starters took to the Eagle floorboards aiming to pitch the ball to center Jeremy Brock at every available opportunity. They made the opening minutes of their offensive play a passing game, as the Bears looked for a hole in the Limestone defense for a pass to the inside.
Easton’s head coach Travis Carter had drilled Brock and the team to get to the moment quick so they could then focus solely on the game-at-hand.
Limestone laid in the opening basket, but Brock answered with a quick layup of his own and only needed two more points to bring his career statistics to 1,000. In another tussle under the hoop, Brock missed a second basket but drew the foul sinking one of two shots.
Brock laughed as he prepared himself at the free throw line. “I had joked about it earlier that it would probably be on the foul line, and I haven’t been shooting those shots very well,” said Brock after the game.
Finally, the senior had powered up one more underneath to tie the game 5-5 and go over the milestone-marker.
Brock started his sophomore year, but didn’t start thinking about making 1,000 until his junior year. “It’s nothing I planned. Last year we had a really good year, but I tried to keep it on the back burner so it wouldn’t get in the way.”
Brock will be the fifth Bear to add his name to the list of varsity basketball players from Easton to reach this marker. His freshman year he tallied up 81 points. In his first starting year as a sophomore, he shot for 296, and added 340 his junior year.
When officials announced Brock’s achievement, the center celebrated by tossing the game ball to his mother in the bleachers but quickly went back to the team huddle.
Brock hopes the team will get a chance to play at the Auditorium. “We need to make it to Bangor,” said Brock. “I’ve never been able to play down there. I want to experience it first-hand and so does everyone else on the team.”
Easton went on to defeat Limestone in a fast-paced battle, 48-39.
Brock finished the night with a team-high 12 points. Sam Bacon and Brad Trask pitched in 10 each for the Bears.
Senior Eagle Matt Enman played an aggressive game with the game-high of 17 points.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
EASTON’S JEREMY BROCK takes a moment to eye the hoop before sinking his 999th career point at Saturday’s game against Limestone. Shortly after, Brock surpassed the 1,000th mark.
