Post by 01- PirateDave on Feb 26, 2015 8:14:16 GMT -6
William and Mary’s Marcus Thornton sets all-time scoring mark
February 26, 2015 by Grant Gittins
With 3.3 seconds to play in the first half of William and Mary’s 65-50 thumping of Towson, senior guard Marcus Thornton broke the oldest Division 1 scoring record in the country. The senior guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland sunk two free throws just before the half to give him 2,053 points for his career, breaking the 65 year old record of 2,052 set by Chet Giermak in 1950.
It was clear from the tip that Thornton was gunning for the school’s all-time scoring record and that he wanted it in the first half. Thornton scored the first 6 points for the Tribe, converting on an old-fashioned 3 point play as well as the more conventional, and Thornton’s specialty, 3-point shot. He would miss his next three shots from the field and then hit on a step-back jumper to give him 8 points on the night, 6 back of the 2,052 mark. It would be another three and a half minutes before Thornton would score again. With 6:42 to go in the half, Thornton drilled another 3-point shot, adding a layup a minute later, to draw within 1 point of the record. Fans would have to wait until the final seconds of the half though to witness history.
With the second half nearing a close, William and Mary had the ball up 26-15, content on taking the final shot of the half. Thornton had 13 points at the time, 1 shy of tying the longest standing Division 1 scoring record, and it was clear he knew it. But instead of pressing and forcing up a tough shot, Thornton did what he does so well: he ran the offense. Thornton passed and cut hard to the basket, constantly in motion. And with just under 10 seconds to play in the half, the ball, as it usually does, found its way into the hands of William and Mary’s all-time leading scorer. Receiving the ball at the top of the key, Thornton darted to his right and exploded into the air. With his head above the rim, Marcus Thornton was ready to throw down a posterizing dunk on top of multiple Towson defenders, the seemingly proper way for a 65 year old record to fall.
But Thornton would not score his record setting points on a vicious dunk nor on his trade-mark kick-back jump shot. Instead, Thornton would send himself into the William and Mary record books on the most basic of shots: the free-throw.
As Thornton skied through the air, he was fouled by Towson forward Walter Foster, simultaneously causing Thornton to miss the dunk off the front of the rim and to go to the charity stripe for two shots and a chance to go down as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
images (10)It is really a testament to Thornton’s work-ethic to be at the free-throw line with a chance to make history. All the hours alone in a gym, without a massive crowd and all the pressure of leading a team. No glamor, no fade-away jumper, just the proper recognition of countless hours spent mastering his craft finally coming to fruition.
As Thornton steps up to the line, Kaplan Arena goes silent.
Three dribbles, a spin of the ball, one more dribble then a pause as Thornton always does. He stares at the basket, knees bent, flicks his wrist, and sends the ball towards the net.
“MARCUS IS KING” slices through the silence, immediately followed by the swishhhhh of the ball going through the net. Kaplan Arena erupts. Marcus Thornton has just tied the longest standing scoring record in Division 1 sports.
A hush falls over the crowd just long enough for each person in attendance to grasp what they just witnessed, then another swishing sound and Kaplan Arena goes berserk. William and Mary head coach Tony Shaver calls a time out to give Thornton a chance to soak in the moment and then it’s back to basketball for Thornton, who contests a buzzer-beating three-point attempt to take his team into the locker room with a 28-15 lead as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Marcus Thornton would finish the game with 23 points on the night and 2,061 for his career. He will have a chance to add to that total at home Saturday against Drexel in his last regular season game. Saturday will also be senior night in Kaplan Arena for the William and Mary Tribe and you can be absolutely sure the “king” of William and Mary will be properly thanked, and honored; though Thornton would probably much rather be back in the gym working on his craft, out there taking jump shots, running the offense, and undoubtedly, practicing free-throws.
February 26, 2015 by Grant Gittins
With 3.3 seconds to play in the first half of William and Mary’s 65-50 thumping of Towson, senior guard Marcus Thornton broke the oldest Division 1 scoring record in the country. The senior guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland sunk two free throws just before the half to give him 2,053 points for his career, breaking the 65 year old record of 2,052 set by Chet Giermak in 1950.
It was clear from the tip that Thornton was gunning for the school’s all-time scoring record and that he wanted it in the first half. Thornton scored the first 6 points for the Tribe, converting on an old-fashioned 3 point play as well as the more conventional, and Thornton’s specialty, 3-point shot. He would miss his next three shots from the field and then hit on a step-back jumper to give him 8 points on the night, 6 back of the 2,052 mark. It would be another three and a half minutes before Thornton would score again. With 6:42 to go in the half, Thornton drilled another 3-point shot, adding a layup a minute later, to draw within 1 point of the record. Fans would have to wait until the final seconds of the half though to witness history.
With the second half nearing a close, William and Mary had the ball up 26-15, content on taking the final shot of the half. Thornton had 13 points at the time, 1 shy of tying the longest standing Division 1 scoring record, and it was clear he knew it. But instead of pressing and forcing up a tough shot, Thornton did what he does so well: he ran the offense. Thornton passed and cut hard to the basket, constantly in motion. And with just under 10 seconds to play in the half, the ball, as it usually does, found its way into the hands of William and Mary’s all-time leading scorer. Receiving the ball at the top of the key, Thornton darted to his right and exploded into the air. With his head above the rim, Marcus Thornton was ready to throw down a posterizing dunk on top of multiple Towson defenders, the seemingly proper way for a 65 year old record to fall.
But Thornton would not score his record setting points on a vicious dunk nor on his trade-mark kick-back jump shot. Instead, Thornton would send himself into the William and Mary record books on the most basic of shots: the free-throw.
As Thornton skied through the air, he was fouled by Towson forward Walter Foster, simultaneously causing Thornton to miss the dunk off the front of the rim and to go to the charity stripe for two shots and a chance to go down as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
images (10)It is really a testament to Thornton’s work-ethic to be at the free-throw line with a chance to make history. All the hours alone in a gym, without a massive crowd and all the pressure of leading a team. No glamor, no fade-away jumper, just the proper recognition of countless hours spent mastering his craft finally coming to fruition.
As Thornton steps up to the line, Kaplan Arena goes silent.
Three dribbles, a spin of the ball, one more dribble then a pause as Thornton always does. He stares at the basket, knees bent, flicks his wrist, and sends the ball towards the net.
“MARCUS IS KING” slices through the silence, immediately followed by the swishhhhh of the ball going through the net. Kaplan Arena erupts. Marcus Thornton has just tied the longest standing scoring record in Division 1 sports.
A hush falls over the crowd just long enough for each person in attendance to grasp what they just witnessed, then another swishing sound and Kaplan Arena goes berserk. William and Mary head coach Tony Shaver calls a time out to give Thornton a chance to soak in the moment and then it’s back to basketball for Thornton, who contests a buzzer-beating three-point attempt to take his team into the locker room with a 28-15 lead as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Marcus Thornton would finish the game with 23 points on the night and 2,061 for his career. He will have a chance to add to that total at home Saturday against Drexel in his last regular season game. Saturday will also be senior night in Kaplan Arena for the William and Mary Tribe and you can be absolutely sure the “king” of William and Mary will be properly thanked, and honored; though Thornton would probably much rather be back in the gym working on his craft, out there taking jump shots, running the offense, and undoubtedly, practicing free-throws.
good luck to all!