FALLS TOWNSHIP — Steve Mitchell’s single-game scoring record at West Muskingum stood for 32 years, a 44-point explosion against Jay Burson’s John Glenn squad that won a Muskingum Valley League title.
It was Jan. 14, 1984, and the Muskies put up 98 in a game Burson and Mitchell combined for 83.
Now Noah Morrison carries the mantle.
Morrison, a 6-1 sophomore guard, fired in six 3s among his career-high 45 points in the Tornadoes’ 93-39 win on Feb. 6 against visiting Crooksville at Gary Ankrum Gymnasium, establishing a new single-game scoring record at a place that hasn’t been short on scorers in its history.
Morrison had 30 of the team’s first 65 points, then added 11 more in the third to get himself well within striking distance at just four shy of the record.
With the game well in hand, he left shortly after splitting two free throws to secure his place in history.
“It was crazy,” Morrison said of the turn of events.
Crazy, or creepy? Morrison said one night earlier, after returning home from a shooting session with his personal coach, he was having a conversation with his father, Ryan, who asked a random question.
“He asked, ‘you ever thinking about breaking a scoring record in a game?’ Noah recalled. “And then it happens.”
As with most big scoring nights, shooting was at the forefront. Noah hit his first two 3s in the first quarter en route to 13 points. When he had seven baskets in the second, a quarter in which West put up 34 points, it was clear this was no ordinary game.
“When I made those first two I knew it was going to be a good night for me,” Noah said. “I told Coach (Cole) Smith that I was feeling it, and he said to keep shooting it. I had 30 at the half and everybody was like, man you need that record. I said, ‘it’s about the win.’ … I was just in shock. I don’t think anyone ever expects to have a game like that. It’s insane.”
Once it was over, naturally he found his dad, who was waiting for him.
“He gave me a hug after we were shaking hands and I was kind of crying,” Noah said. “But they weren’t sad tears; they were tears of joy. We were both so happy.”
Smith and top assistant Jeff Nezbeth had one of the best views of Noah’s play, which has been on the ascent for weeks during the team’s 10-game winning streak that left it at 15-4.
He entered the Crooksville game at 12.2 points per game while leading the team in field goal shooting (54%), three-point shooting (44%) and steals (3.2).
Smith said “it was only a matter of time” before Noah had a dominant effort like the one produced in front of the home crowd, some who likely were there when Mitchell had his night of fame. He averaged 25.1 points per game that season.
“He created so many scoring opportunities from being in the passing lanes, and then offensively he just found his spots and shot the ball with extreme confidence,” Smith said. “I’m very happy for him, but I’m not surprised this happened because of all the work I’ve seen him put in the last couple years. Awesome night for sure, and seeing the entire team celebrate him was great to see.”
Noah joked that there was probably no way he would be able to sleep with the amount of adrenaline rushing through his body after the game. But Smith scheduled an early morning practice to ensure the team’s eyes remained on the prize.
Specifically, it’s the potential for a strong tournament season. First, though, are games with Tri-Valley, Meadowbrook and Maysville to end the regular season.
The latter figures to be a true measuring stick of just how far Noah and his teammates have come since December. Speaking of the Panthers, Noah’s big game was the second 45-point game produced by an MVL team in the last five days and fourth of at least 40 in the past three weeks — Maysville’s Jordyn Watson had 45 against Cleveland Heights Lutheran East and teammate Gator Nichols 42 at Tri-Valley and 40 at Meadowbrook.
“It’s a big game for us, really good competition going into the tournament,” Noah said. “Them, Meadowbrook and Tri-Valley is a really good stretch for us to prepare.”
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: West M sophomore breaks three-decade old scoring record vs Crooksville
