Lescoe reaches 1,000

Cocalico’s Tucker Lescoe (right) drives to the hoop during Saturday’s game vs. Muhlenberg. In the game, Lescoe eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark. (Photo by Dick Wanner)

The anticipation was building from the opening jump ball. There were a few detours on the way to the celebration. And then, as everyone on the Cocalico bench rose to their feet and flung their hands in the air, it went in.

The ball left junior Tucker Lescoe’s hands with 1:48 left in the third quarter Saturday. He was standing behind the three-point line as the leading three point shooter in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. This particular triple was the one that everyone was there to see.

After the ball ripped through the net, the clock was stopped at 1:46 because Lescoe had scored 1000 points in his Eagle career. And everyone rose to their feet and roared. The game was halted for a few minutes, as Lescoe found (and hugged) the most important of the celebrants. Those included parents, grandparents, coaches, teammates and a few female students (perks of the accomplishment).

Lescoe came into Saturday’s contest against Muhlenberg needing 17 to crack the landmark. By the end of the third quarter, he had become the seventh Cocalico male athlete to score 1000 points or more. By the end of this season, he is likely to be in fourth place.

Carl Unruh (class of ‘74) leads the list with 1,264 points. His teammate on that year’s state semifinal squad, Kevin Crouse (‘74) currently ranks fourth with 1,071. Second on the list is Nate Winham (2006) with 1,153, just six more than 1990 grad Shawn Martin (1,147). Number five is Phil Fassnacht (‘77’) from that year’s State Championship team at 1,038, followed by 1999’s Michael Means (1,028).

It was almost as if no one cared about the game itself. Lescoe only tallied three in the first period, as the Eagles outscored the Mules 20-12. Warming up with nine in the second quarter, the junior led Cocalico to a 33-25 advantage at the break by scoring two three-point plays the old fashioned way. Each was a driving lay up, followed by a foul shot.

Lescoe put nine more on the board in the third; including the historic three to finish with 21 points and leading the Eagles to a 66-50 win. Ian Arcudi (19 points), John Waskowicz (11) and Austin Noll (9) also chipped in for the victory. For good measure, Lescoe grabbed five of the team’s 20 rebounds and dished eight of their 12 assists.

The non-league win over the AAAA opponent was important, as Cocalico (14-5) works its way up the AAA District Three power rankings.

“He understands the game,” Cocalico Coach Travis Wealand said of Lescoe. “He works so hard and spends a lot of time in the gym preparing.”

That effort pays off as well for the team, says Wealand.

“He’s a leader on the floor,” he said. “He understands the situations and shares the ball. He gets our guys in position.”

Lescoe knew exactly what was on the line Saturday in Denver.

“I did know when it got to within one point,” he said. “It made me a little more nervous, but I liked the fact that it was here (in Denver).”

So, where does this rank in his career to date?

“It’s pretty high,” stated Lescoe, as the smile grew broader on his face. “Actually, it’s very high. I try to be a team guy and account for the other guys on the court.”

Lescoe has approached this landmark by grabbing big chunks of points in several games this season. There were the 37 against Pequea Valley on December 15, the 41 (five short of the school record for a single game) when Lebanon Catholic was the opponent on January 16, and the 32 at Northern Lebanon last Thursday.

The total this year alone through Saturday is 417, which is a 22 point-per-game clip. There are certainly times, when it looks like he can’t miss.

“There are games when I feel in a zone,” added Lescoe. “My teammates see it as well, and I can feel that they make an extra pass or two to set me up.”

How important is the three point shot to his game?

“I think it opens up driving lanes,” noted Lescoe. “It is a big part of my game.”

The next level has begun to notice as well. Despite having the remainder of this season as well as the next, college recruiters have come calling. “He has had looks from different colleges,” explained Wealand. “He has also made contacts through the AAU program. Division One schools like Bucknell, Boston, Colgate and Holy Cross have been in touch.”

Lescoe acknowledged the benefit of his AAU team.

“I think the recruiting started to get serious last summer,” he said. “I got to play in Philadelphia with and against guys from Roman Catholic, Saint John Nuemann and other schools in Philly and New Jersey.”

So, who does Lescoe turn to for advice in the sometimes intimidating game of recruiting for high school athletes?

“My parents and Coach Wealand, who played in college,” he said.

After that answer, he finally had the chance to grab a piece of the big blue and white sheetcake with the number 1000 on it.

There could be another cake or two in the next 12 or 13 months for Lescoe as he approaches the school’s all-time scoring mark and takes a couple dozen shots at the single game scoring mark at Cocalico.

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