REACHES MILESTONE — Mariah Wiley, No. 30 of the Hodgdon Hawks, scored her 1,000th high school career point last Friday against the Greater Houlton Christian Academy. The game was stopped and Wiley’s feat was recognized. Joining Wiley for a photograph are, from left, Crystal Folsom, Hodgdon assistant; Larry and Loreen Wiley, Mariah’s parents and Hodgdon coach Vaughn Farrar.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
It was a unique happening last Friday night at Hodgdon High School. Not only is it rare to have a 1,000-point scorer at any school during the basketball season, but Hodgdon celebrated two in one night.
Seniors Mariah Wiley, daughter of Loreen and Larry Wiley, and Josh Hudson, son of Robin Hudson and the late Jerry Hudson, both reached their 1,000th high school point.
Even though they both achieved the same milestone, the way they got there was totally their own.
“I did not know I was close to 1,000,” said Wiley. “I had previously been told that I had a good chance at getting it, but I did not know where I was at this point of the season. I figured since they didn’t tell me, I must not be close enough to know.”
Very few people knew exactly how close Wiley was to the target. But, the whole team found out how close she was when coach Vaughn Farrar called a timeout and let everyone in on the secret.
“I was two points away,” said Wiley. “It was one of the best surprises and moments of my life.”
Wiley was two points away from her 1,000 point. With under a minute to halftime, she took her first shot out of the huddle behind the arc on the baseline and it bounced off the side of the rim. She circled around the baseline, received the pass from Lacey McQuarrie, who then set a screen for Wiley to work around for an open 3-pointer from the right wing. With that shot, Wiley became the sixth girl — joining Tammy Gardiner, Jodi Quint, Kerri Ivey, Wendy Ivey and Holly Quint — in school history to score 1,000 points.
“It’s an indescribable feeling for sure,” she said. “Two of the girls [Kerri and Wendy Ivey] already in the club at Hodgdon are my cousins, so I am definitely honored to join them. I have looked up to them for so long it’s strange that I finally have accomplished something that they did as well when they were my age.”
As her teammates congratulated her and the crowd went wild with applause, the game was stopped and coach Farrar spoke heartfelt words to his senior, who received a basketball encased in glass.
“Scoring 1,000 points was not only a goal, but a dream,” Wiley explained. “It was a goal that I had set for myself when I was first learning to play basketball. It’s a very unique opportunity and I was determined to be able to experience it.”
Wiley attended Hodgdon Elementary School in grades preK-kindergarten before going to the Greater Houlton Christian Academy for grades 1-9.
As a sophomore, Wiley joined the Hawks after playing two varsity seasons with the Academy. She also broke into the record books against her former team during last Friday’s contest.
“It’s a very hard achievement to acquire,” Wiley noted. “No matter what, you have to be scoring a certain amount every game of your career against some of the best defenses you may ever face, which may be the hardest obstacle of them all, figuring out how to score when defenses key on you.”
But, Wiley’s coach and teammates were instrumental in helping her achieve the feat.
“I would not have been able to even get relatively close without my teammates and coach,” she said. “They not only help me on the court, but they also help me off the court. They pass to me, they run plays for me, and they encourage and give me confidence each and every game and practice.”
With that goal behind her, Wiley has her eyes set on another target.
“Definitely to get a state championship,” she said. “If the team can get that then all my dreams as an athlete and competitor will have come true.”
Hudson joins celebration
It was well-known information how many points — 32 going into the game against Greater Houlton Christian Academy — senior Josh Hudson needed last Friday to score his 1,000 point.
“My mother had been keeping track,” said Hudson. “Knowing how many points I needed really didn’t affect my play until the last three points.”
SCORES 1,000 POINTS — Hodgdon’s Josh Hudson, No. 22, scored his 1,000th high school career point with 37.5 left in last Friday’s game against Greater Houlton Christian Academy. Enjoying the moment together are, from left, Hodgdon coach Rob Smith, Hudson and his mother, Robin.
With less than a minute to play, Hudson wasn’t sure if he would get into the 1,000-point club or if he would have to get the points during tonight’s prelim game against Limestone/MSSM.
“I was getting quite nervous,” he said.
Not only was he putting pressure on himself, GHCA was making him work hard for those last few points, as they doubled and triple teamed him down the stretch.
“As for GHCA, some of those guys did know that I was close and wanted to make me earn my 1,000 points … not just give them to me,” he said. “That was great because I did not want them to take it easy on me since I was close.”
As hard as Hudson was battling his nerves and the Academy players, his brother Chris and teammates were working just as hard to ensure his accomplishment. With each hard-fought rebound, the Hawks tried to get the ball to Hudson. Sometimes they were able to, while other times they had to take the opening and score.
“As my coach would say, ‘Yes, 1,000 points is an individual goal, but that individual cannot reach that goal by themselves. It takes a team to assist that individual.’ And, it was just that Friday night. My teammates helped me reach that goal by getting the ball to me.”
With time ticking away, Hudson got the ball down low — from his brother on a rebound for the assist — and scored from the baseline and was fouled with 37.5 seconds left in the game.
“After making the shot, I was down to one point,” said Hudson. “This was the time I became the most nervous because I knew it was all left to one foul shot.”
With all eyes on him, his nerves running high, a bit tight, Hudson’s shot hit the backboard and bounced in.
“After making the foul shot, I felt as if a huge weight was taken off my shoulders,” he said. “I had many people over the last few weeks ask me ‘How close are you?’ My response, ‘I am close enough and when I make it, everyone will know.’”
The horn blew and the game was stopped, as Hudson’s brother gave him a huge hug and his teammates swarmed around him in celebration.
“I want to thank each and every one on the team, especially my brother, for helping me,” Hudson said. “Playing with my brother the last two years has been a great experience for me. Chris has been one of the most supportive people of me reaching my goal of 1,000 points.”
Coach Robbie Smith said that Hudson was like a son to him and he didn’t know why he was blessed to be the coach of such talented players. He didn’t know the reason why the Hudsons landed in Hodgdon, but he was glad to have them.
After a hug, Smith gave Hudson a basketball encased in glass with a golden name plate to mark his accomplishment.
The Hudson brothers moved to Hodgdon four years ago. Hudson accumulated his points starting his freshman year. Their mother, the former Robin Gerow, played for the Hawks, as well.
Hudson joins the ranks of the following ballplayers who reached 1,000 points — Duane Williams, Chris Mooers, Sam Henderson, Jimmy Griffin, Tony Quint, Tyler Putnam, Adam Carter and Jared Stewart.
Both Hudson and Wiley are not showy players. They are hard working and appreciative of all the help they received along the way.
Wiley added, “I have no words to express how honored I am. I am also honored to have shared my experience with Josh Hudson. It still amazes me that we joined the 1,000-point club on the same night.”
