By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Chad Duff was unaware of how close he was to scoring 1,000 points until his next to last home game against Washburn on Jan. 11 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
“I had no idea that I had any chance of getting it until warm ups,” he said. “I thought I was about 100 points away, but I really had no idea.”
With high expectations, Duff fell short of the mark that night by one point.
“When I didn’t get it, I was really upset,” he admitted. “I had the perfect opportunity and blew it.”
But, on Jan. 13 in Ashland, Duff shattered the 1,000-point barrier, becoming only the third Greater Houlton Christian Academy boy to reach the milestone, alongside Emery Lincoln and Drew Farrar.
“It is a huge honor to be next in a group with two of the best athletes to go through the school,” Duff said.
Duff wasn’t sure as a freshman if he could ever reach this feat, but he had set the 1,000-point mark as a goal.
“I tried very hard to make sure that it was never my focus,” he said. “Whether it was in front of me or now that it is behind me, I don’t think it changed how I played. I’m honored to get it, so I guess in a sense, I’m glad that I got it now rather than wondering at the end of the year if I would get it or not.”
Duff patterned his playing after his brother Scott and former 1,000-point Eagle scorer Lincoln.
“I always liked the way my brother played,” he said. “He loved to drive to the rim no matter who was in his way. Emery loved low post play and worked his butt off on every play. I can’t say I try to play like any one person in particular, I just try to be strong with the ball and always work hard.”
Obviously, Duff has been called on through the years to be one of the Eagle’s ball handlers and scorers, roles he has embraced.
“I think it is an honor to be one of the scorers on the team,” he said. “It is uplifting after we win a game to know that you helped your teammates in the scoring column. There is a small amount of pressure involved in my role, which I love. That is what drives me to work harder a lot of the time.”
Duff’s basketball career began when he was around 5 years old in a basement, at the side of his grandfather Fast.
“My gramp put up two hoops in his basement and [stoked] on the fire,” Duff said, so it would be warm for him.
The hoops were constructed of old digger lags mounted to the floor joists. Duff’s grandfather would sit in a chair by the fire and tally his points.
“He kept track of each basket I ever made on pieces of cardboard,” recalled Duff. “Without him, I don’t even know if I would have ever even played basketball. I think I learned the most about basketball in his basement with him always watching me and helping me.”
Duff also realizes his talent first and foremost comes from above and then it needed molding.
“I want to thank God for the abilities and the healthy body he has given me,” he said. “He has enabled me to use my abilities every time I get the chance. I would like to thank my family, especially my mom and dad for always supporting me. Then, I would like to thank all of my coaches. There have been too many to even remember. But, my varsity coaches Terry Cummings, Sam Henderson, Barrett Potter and Steve Gray have taught me so much over the last few years.”
After high school, Duff plans on attending college and studying to be a State Trooper.
“I’m not sure where yet,” he said. “But, I hope to get a degree in criminal justice.”
Before the season ends, Duff also has another aspiration to reach —the Class D Eastern Maine Tournament.
“My next personal goal is also a team goal,” he said. “We are really working this year to get to the Bangor Auditorium. The GHCA boys have never made it there in the history of the school, so this is really important to me and my teammates.”
Editor’s note: Duff’s mother e-mailed a note saying they still have the cardboard that Gramp Fast tallied Duff’s points on. Gramp Fast’s cardboard totals 1,100 points. Gramp Fast tallied each point as one, so actually, Chad scored 2,200 points by age 5.
