CAMDEN – Preble Shawnee boys basketball improved to 12-0 and 6-0 in the WOAC by defeating 4th place Bradford 8-5, 4-2 by the score of 79-39. It would as be historic for Mason Shrout who eclipsed 2000 career points during the game.
Shrout need 13 points to reach the mark and got it at the 3:51 mark of the 2nd quarter on a contested shot at the rim. He would end the game with 25 and now has 2012 points and half the season remaining.
Shrout already the leading scorer in School History is the first player to reach that mark in Preble County and the newly formed WOAC conference. He also joins an elite club in the state of Ohio and by the time his career ends could easily be in the top 30 all time.
When asked about the record after the game Mason was quick to give credit to others on the milestone.
“I’m extremely blessed. first of all, I’ve got to thank God. I mean, it wouldn’t be possible without him. Also, the loving support from this community, my family, my mom, my dad and my brother are really special. When I was walking through the line my brother made sure he was giving me the tightest hug. It’s just an awesome accomplishment. I’m super blessed to be able to do it … but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them, my coaches and my teammates,” Shrout stated.
Shrout was also grateful to be able to break the record at home as there was some concern it would happen on the road.
“You know, I was doing the math in my head, and we had a three game away stretch and I might not get it at home. But I came down on my ankle weird and sat out against North, I think that’s just God putting it together letting me come home and break it here, and to do it here is so special,” Shrout exclaimed.
Preble Shawnee was all business to start the game against Bradford racing out to a 15-0 lead with the Roaders taking a timeout to try and collect themselves.
The Arrows got triples from Knox Mills, Brayden Robinette and Brody Morton along with 9 points from Shrout and assist to Logan Hawley for a dunk to take a 20-6, 1st quarter lead.
The crowd was waiting in anticipation in the 2nd quarter knowing Shrout needed just 4 more points for the record. But rather than force shots Shrout and company continued to share the basketball and play as a team.
Shrout passed up a couple of shots and dished one more time to Hawley for a two-handed dunk. Shrout had 5 dimes on the night and is also the school record holder for assists in a career.
Shrout finally get the record breaker on a post-up shot on the block, nothing fancy but a good old-fashioned blue-collar bucket which personifies who Mason Shrout really is, a hard-working guy who is all about making winning plays and that is what makes him special.
He would end the quarter with 9 points, 18 at the half, 25 for the game.
Despite the record-breaking moment, Bradford decided to come to life on the court and erupted for 19 points in the 2nd quarter. Dalton Branson hit consecutive triples, Owen Canan had 6 points, and Landon Wills 4 during the frame but still trailed 40-25 at the half.
Preble Shawnee came back out in the 3rd quarter and reestablished their stronghold on the game scoring 21 points while holding Bradford to just 6.
It was 7 points for Shrout and 5 for Isaac Blankenship both who was done for the night after the 3rd period.
The final frame was deadlocked at 8 points each with a few of the Shawnee jv players getting into the scoring column and the Arrows picking up the win 79-39.
For the game Shrout led all scorers with 25, Brody Morton, Logan Hawley and Isaac Blankenship 10 each, Caleb Blankenship 6, Cooper Shrout and Braylon Dorrel 4 each and Carson Hollon and Case Roell 3 each.
Bradford was led by Owen Canan and Hudson Hill each with 10 points, Dalton Branson 9, Landon Wills 7, Greg Chowning 2 and Griffin Trevino 1.
After the game Preble Shawnee coach Jake Turner took some time to talk about his senior player.
“We talked about it in there (locker room) with the team afterwards, such an amazing moment. I mean, I don’t know that many guys who have been around to score to that many points. That’s just so unbelievable and he (Shrout) works his tail off he’s an unbelievable player,” Turner boasted.
“He has really blessed us again and now we get to enjoy this moment, it’s special. He deserves it. I’m so proud of him, happy for his family and to do it in front of the home crowd makes it even more special, we had a great crowd out there tonight,” Turner concluded.
The Arrows will play next on Monday at Flying to the Hoop on Martin Luther King Day at Kettering Arena where they will take on Lloyd Memorial of Kentucky at 11:30am.
