By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
At the 2:02 mark of the second quarter Thursday night, Silver Lake senior Dayne Johnson drove to the bucket down the left baseline and drew a foul, needing just one more point to pass the legendary Lon Kruger for the Silver Lake all-time scoring record that’s been held for 56 years at 1,636.
Senior Dayne Johnson (2) poses for a picture with his teammates after becoming Silver Lake's career scoring leader Thursday night. [Photo by Vince Lovergine/TSN]
After making the first of two free throws, Johnson surpassed Kruger at 1,637 on the way to a 24-point night as Silver Lake routed Maranatha Academy 65-25 in a Class 3A sub-state quarterfinal.
The game was paused and there was a rousing ovation for Johnson as he waved to the crowd and the student section several times with a big smile on his face.
Not to mention, before he passed Lon Kruger, he passed his own coach, Shannon Kruger, who was No. 2 on the list at 1,511 before the season began.
“It’s awesome,'' Johnson said. "I had my eyes on it a little bit, but I couldn’t have been here without my teammates and coaches. It’s awesome how good this school is to officially be the leader.”
Johnson said he knew it was a realistic goal about 10 games in, and if he did get close, he wanted to break the record on his home court. He chuckled and said he was mad that he didn’t break the record on and-one, but he said a free throw is just as good.
“He can score at every level,” Kruger said. “When we knew the next bucket was the record-setter and then he got fouled and us coaches joked like, ‘Well, this is what makes him really good too.’ He gets to the free throw line, not only does he get there, he makes most of them. He’s so hard to guard.”
Kruger said athletes like Johnson don’t come around too often, and he’s grateful to be a part of his journey.
“He’s a special kid,” Kruger said. “You have to do a lot of the other things right to get the opportunity to play enough to score that many. He does everything right.
"He’s the hardest worker. We’re doing a defensive or rebounding drill, he’s going full speed every time even though he’s a senior and he knows he’s the dude, you wouldn’t be able to tell that in practice. He fits in the best way you can.”
Kruger had a minor speech after the game congratulating Johnson as the crowd overheard and he called Johnson the GOAT.
“The record stood for 56 years and there've been a lot of good players that have come through during that time and no one else has the record so how is he not the GOAT?” Kruger said with a smile.
“He (Shannon) was a great player and Hall of Famer at Washburn, so it means a lot coming from a guy like him,” Johnson said.
Johnson scored 10 of the first 18 points in the first quarter as the Eagles punched their ticket to the semifinals with the 40-point win.
After the game Silver Lake played an audio message of Lon Kruger congratulating Johnson on his accomplishment and he got the game ball and all of his teammates signed it after.
"It was awesome,'' Johnson said. "He was an awesome player and probably better than I was, NBA coach, college coach. It’s cool that he still gives back to the community and still cares about Silver Lake where he came from.''
From the get-go Thursday, the Eagles couldn’t miss from anywhere.
Junior Camden Kruger, who scored eight points, started the scoring with a triple and the rout was on. The Eagles started on a 9-0 run and pushed it to 12-3 after a Joel Miller trey. Miller ended with nine points.
Johnson converted an and-one making it 18-3 and Silver Lake led 23-3 after one.
The Eagles held Maranatha to just five points in the half and Silver Lake led 41-5 going into halftime.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, as Miller and Johnson hit a three apiece, bringing the advantage to 47-9 and the Eagles led 59-19 at the end of the third quarter.
The running clock went into effect to begin the fourth quarter and Silver Lake picked up win number 17 on the season.
“I loved our start and we were guarding,” Kruger said. “Defense is our staple, we’re not going to hold teams to five points in a half every game. Make them earn everything, no easy buckets, that’s our mantra, and it’s easier said than done. But, for next week, it’s going to be a fight.”
The Eagles will play Big East League rival Sabetha on Tuesday, March 3 with time and location to be determined. Silver Lake beat the Blue Jays in double overtime back on Jan. 30.
SILVER LAKE 65, MARANATHA ACADEMY 25
Maranatha 3 2 14 6 – 25
Silver Lake 23 18 18 6 – 65
Maranatha (4-18) – Shaver 2 0-0 4, Casper 1 0-0 2, Alsup 2 0-0 6, Larkin 2 0-2 5, Katelwaho 2 0-2 4, Ingalsbe 2 0-0 4.
Silver Lake (17-6) – Kruger 3 0-0 8, VanVactor 2 1-1 5, Johnson 7 8-9 24, Ray 1 1-2 3, Womack 1 0-0 2, Rooks 1 0-0 3, Bergmann 3 1-1 7, Kraus 1 2-2 4, Miller 3 0-0 9.
3-point goals – Maranatha 3 (Alsup 2, Larkin), Silver Lake 8 (Miller 3, Johnson 2, Kruger 2, Rooks). Total fouls – Maranatha 15, Silver Lake 8. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
