Jake Carey surpasses 1000 career points

By SUE RIEDER
sports@beeherald.com

On Jan. 2, Paton-Churdan senior Jake Carey was honored for surpassing 1000 career points in varsity competitions. Carey  accomplished this feat in the team’s game versus West Harrison on Dec. 19. Jake added another 26 points in the game versus Glidden-Ralston raising his point total to 1,029, which principal Annie Smith thinks is a school record. “Not one person or community member that we can think of remembers any player that has scored more than Jake.”

The Rockets have at least 14 games left this season, so Carey has the opportunity to raise that total significantly before he finishes his high school career, but when interviewed at the beginning of the season, the point guard was more concerned about his team winning the conference title than setting scoring records. He is a very versatile, energetic, and unselfish player who has led his team in assists and steals three out of the last four years.  

“This is a great accomplishment, and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving young man,” said Rocket coach Chris Stimson. “Jake has put in a ton of time to become a great player and has been a leader on how to do it the right way. He has spent countless hours with a basketball in his hands. He is not one of those kids who just practices in November through March and then puts the ball away.”

Carey has been a starter all four years in high school, has finished each season with a double digit scoring average, and has received all-conference recognition every season that he has competed. His 83 steals recorded last season led the Rolling Valley Conference and tied him for fifth place among all players in Class 1A.

CONGRATULATIONS JAKE!!!