Johnson's 1,000th point sets state mark
Dior Johnson, 14, becomes youngest player in state history to score 1,000 points
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. » Eighthgrader Dior Johnson became the youngest boys basketball player in the state, and just the seventh player at Saugerties High, to score 1,000 points, netting 33 in the Sawyers’ 70-39 non-league victory over Pine Plains on Tuesday.
Johnson, who turned 14 last month, needed 12 to reach the milestone in only his second varsity season. He’s averaging nearly 31 points a game this season — scoring nearly 600 points as the Sawyers prepare for the upcoming Section 9, Class A tournament.
Glens Falls junior standout Joe Girard holds the state career scoring mark, recently surpassing the 3,000-point plateau.
Johnson got off to a fast start, getting six of the Sawyers’ first nine points, including two on a dunk.
With 4:22 left in the second quarter, he dribbled left, got a screen from Zack Hatrum and buried a 3-point field goal from the top of the arc. It was one of a pair of 3-pointers he made in the game.
Johnson joins Steve Freer (1,435 points, 1981-85), Joe Bartholomew (1,087, 1993-96), Chris Fabiano (1,040, 1986-90), Bob Kaible (1,025, 2000-03); Darnell Edge (1,016, 2012-15) and Paton Gibbs (1,001, 201115) on Saugerties’ all-time list.
Liam Schoonmaker added 17 points for the Sawyers, who built a 44-15 lead at the half.
Jacob Lydon scored 13 points and Matt Beam and Matt Funk each added seven to pace Pine Plains. PINE PLAINS (39)—Proper 1 2-4 4, Funk 1 0-0 2, Beam 3 1-2 7, Funk 3 1-2 7, Hurst 3 0-0 5, Lydon 5 0-2 13, Kozlowski 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 4-12 3. SAUGERTIES (70)—Schoonmaker 7 0-0 7, Edwards 1 0-0 2, Rell 1 1-2 4, Johnson 14 3-3
33, Hindes 1 0-0 2, Whitaker 1 0-0 3, Defino 0 0-0 0, Hartram 0 0-0 0, McGirr 1 1-1 3, Smith 0 0-0 0, Passante 2 0-0 6. Totals 28 5-6 70. Pine Plains 9 6 20 4—39 Saugerties 22 22 16 10—70 3-point field goals: Lydon 3; Schoonmaker 3, Rell, Johnson 2, Whitaker, Passante 2.
Rhinebeck 57, Highland 49
At Highland, Lex Kronbichler scored 15 points to lead the Hawks.
Max Pietras scored 13 points, as Rhinebeck outscored the (7-13) Huskies 21-15 in the third quarter to overcome a 20-17 halftime deficit.
Andre Twyman and Cameron Ness scored 14 points each to lead Highland. RHINEBECK (57)—Hines 2 0-0 5, DiMarco 1 2-4 4, Denatale 3 0-0 6, Hansen 2 0-0 4, Kronbichler 5 3-5 15, Lyons 3 1-2 7, Imperato 0 0-0 0, Pietras 4 1-2 13, Schnapp 1 0-0 3. Totals 21 7-13 57. HIGHLAND (49)—Twyman 6 2-2 14, Panzella 1 0-0 3, Scala 2 4-5 8, DiValentino 0 0-0 0, Barry 1 0-0 3, Verona 0 0-0 0, Vidal 0 0-0 0, Benjamin 1 0-0 2, Baker 0 0-0 0, Merget 0 0-0 0, Benkert 1 2-2 5, Ogelle 0 0-0 0, Mathis 0 0-0 0, Ness 7 0-0 14. Totals 19 8-9 49. Rhinebeck 5 12 21 19—57 Highland 15 5 15 14—49 3-point field goals: Pietras 4, Kronbichler, Hines, Schnapp; Panzella, Barry, Benkert. Team records: Highland 7-13.