Clarkton wins big on homecoming night, Morgan scores 1,000th career point

CLARKTON - Homecoming at Clarkton Friday wasn't spectacular just because the Reindeer basketball team thrashed the Scott County Central Braves 59-43.

It was, in a word, sublime as Clarkton senior Owen Morgan reached and then surpassed 1,000 high school career points.

Anyone would think that's cause for a massive, raise-the-roof celebration.

And while there was that moment immediately upon Morgan sinking a nothing-but-net free throw, the humble senior accepted his acclaim with a mature, beyond-high-school-age, quiet dignity.

"I was excited before the game," Morgan, a slight, muscular young man said after the contest. "I was ready to play.”

"But what I really wanted was to play with the team," he continued. "I wanted everybody to have fun. I wanted everybody to play well and I wanted everybody to win. For seniors, this was our last homecoming. I'm just glad we won, and we won as a team."

The Reindeer as a whole honored those requests. The squad ended the first period ahead by just two buckets, 12-8, but Clarkton completely dominated the second period by steam-rolling over the Braves and leading at the half 36-10 with Morgan the high scorer, blasting a total of 16 points.

He needed 22 to reach the 1,000-point mark.

"He's at 16 now," Reindeer Head Coach Cole McBroom said through a wry smile. "Think I should bench him?"

To be clear, the Braves' season record is a bit dismal. That said, this team of young warriors played hard, fast, rebounded skillfully and hit four three-point goals to the Reindeer's nill.

"Their record does not reflect their ability," McBroom noted. "At all. They're tough kids and they come to play. They're prepared for us. Coach McAlister sees to that."

Not surprisingly, the Braves played man-to-man and beyond. The team disrupted tempo. Its defense swarmed Clarkton's offense when necessary. And it posted a few deadly mid-range and outside goals.

"Hopefully, we'll get our young squad to attack," Coach McAlister said before the game. "We'll get better.”

The Braves trailed the Reindeer by 24 points, 43-19, at the third period's end.

And although the Reindeer breezed to a 59-43 final, the fourth period belonged to Morgan, who drew a foul and approached the free-throw line in his quest for 1,000 points with about six minutes remaining.

Clarkton High School senior Owen Morgan fires a free throw for his 1,000th high school career point Friday night at Clarkton.Steve Hankins, Contributing Writer

And the rest, as is said, was history.

Morgan sank the free throw to the thunderous applause of spectators on both sides, paused to accept his reward of hugs and slaps offered by his teammates and coaches, then returned to the line to fire a second missile through the goal.

And he didn't stop there. Morgan was the game's high scorer with 25 points under his belt.

"He's an excellent young man," Coach McBroom said. "We're all super proud of him.

"And look, all these players are great kids," the coach emphasized. "I'm not taking away anything from Owen when I say I don't have to grade-check this team. I think we might have had one write-up all year. All these kids are great kids. They come to practice ready to practice. They weight train. We lift all year, even in summer when school is not in session. We don't lift if we have three games in a week, But two games or less, we're lifting. And we have plenty of depth. Bryant Redden plays a heck of a game. So does Amauri (Gorman), James (Johnson), Clayton (Godsey) and the rest of the team. Everyone comes to play."

And while Coach McBroom has a plethora of positive words to describe his players, he holds their feet to the fire when it matters.

"Look, we coasted that last period," he explained. "Absolutely coasted. "We're not naturally talented enough to coast against anybody. We have to continue to attack, continue to rebound, continue to go hard in the paint and improve our outside shooting."

Still, Friday's victory was sweet for Coach McBroom, for Morgan, for the Reindeer team, and for the entire school's student body.

"Anytime you can win your homecoming game, the sock hop after is way more fun," Coach McBroom noted. "Now it's time for fun."