West center scores 1,000th point in regular-season finale at home
Published 1:50 pm Saturday, February 16, 2019
West Stanly senior Hayden Greene joined an elite group of players who have worn the kelly green in Friday’s regular-season finale versus Mount Pleasant.
Greene, a senior playing center for the Colts, became the seventh men’s basketball player to score 1,000 career points, joining Andrew Wilison, B.J. Hill, Issac Sturdivant, Jacob Whitley, Neil Willoughby and Adafe Price. He is also the 10th player at West Stanly, male or female, to score 1,000 points.
“It was an amazing opportunity to do it at home in front of the community and all my friends,” Greene said. “I really appreciate my teammates and coaches for helping me reach this milestone.”
“It’s more impressive considering what an unselfish player he is,” added West coach John Thompson. “It’s tougher sometimes for a big (man) to get to this landmark, especially the way the game has evolved. He’s been so solid and consistent. From a basketball standpoint he has great hands and footwork.”
Thompson added as good a player as Greene is, “he’s a better kid. He may be the best teammate I’ve ever coached.”
Greene’s accomplishment came on a night when West faced a tough Tigers opponent in a 77-43 loss. Greene led the Colts (12-12, 5-5 RRC) with 18, netting his 1,000th point with 16 seconds left in the game on a free throw. Andrew Medlin added 11 for the Colts.
Keim Moore led three in double figures for the Tigers (20-4, 8-2) with 24.
West trailed 28-27 at halftime but was outscored 28-6 in the third quarter en route to the loss.
The Colts finished third in the Rocky River Conference and will be back at home Tuesday hosting No. 6-seed Central Academy (2-22, 0-10) in the first round of the RRC tournament. The winner of that game plays either East Montgomery (7-17, 3-7) or host Mount Pleasant.