Abbotsford (OnFocus) – To reach the 1000 Point Club as a basketball player, the anticipation can sometimes be overwhelming. As Abbotsford took on Prentice Tuesday evening, Cade Faber and his Falcons’ teammates had two goals. The first was to win the Marawood matchup and keep their momentum going.
The second? Help Faber reach the 1000 point club. Both goals were accomplished, with Faber reaching the mark in the second half and playing a big role in Abbotsford’s 59-54 win over Prentice.
Needing seven points to reach the mark, Faber started out with a basket on Abbotsford’s first possession. Despite a crowd on hand to support Faber’s push to reach 1000, a casual observer would never have known Faber was on the doorstep of reaching a major career milestone.
Looking to dish out the basketball and facing double and triple teams, Faber did what every coach hopes for from everyone on their team: play team basketball. Faber continued to look for teammates in the first half, and at times, the senior guard appeared to be pressing with the 1000 point goal on his mind.
Faber’s efforts to play complete team basketball, however, never waned, as he inspired the Falcons to play well. Faber’s Dad and Abbotsford Head Coach, Brent Faber, noted the goal was on everyone’s mind.
“We talked about it before the game. This was a nerve-wracking thing for everyone. I just wanted to get it over with. I hoped he could get there before halftime, and I didn’t want it to play into the game,” said Brent Faber.
Faber brought the Falcons back to a 12-12 tie with under five minutes to go. His free throw with 2:45 left gave Faber 5 points for the evening. The Falcons led 21-18 at halftime, and an air of excitement hung over the Abbotsford Fieldhouse. History was in the making, and the Falcons were winning.
Abbotsford fans and Faber’s teammates were waiting in anticipation for Faber to reach the 1000 point mark. What no one could know, however, was that Faber would join the club in noteworthy fashion.
With Faber playing on top of a half court pressure defense, an Abbotsford steal led to a fast break. With his trademark long strides enabling Faber to get out ahead of the pack in a blink of an eye, senior teammate Hunter Soyk connected with Faber on a lob pass that saw Faber reach the goal just 43 seconds into the second half.
Faber took the pass and flushed it through with a statement dunk, and the crowd erupted with support.
“After I reached the goal. it was just a burst of excitement,” Cade explained. “Having 5 points at halftime, it was on my mind, all the things that led up to reaching the goal.”
Brent Faber was understandably proud, as both a coach and father.
“It feels great. I couldn’t ask for a better career for Cade in high school. This was actually a goal we set out for, reaching 1000 points, as a freshman. All along the way, from achieving All-conference, now to this, it’s been quite a ride,” Brent proudly shared.
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With the individual goal out of the way, the Falcons were energized, and built a lead as large as 11 at the 8 minute mark, 45-34.
The Falcons kept the Buccaneers at bay the rest of the way, and it was mission accomplished for Abbotsford.
Brandon Diedrich led the Falcons with 18 points, and Soyk added 16 points.
Cade went back to his time in middle school and remembered a coach that encouraged him to focus on his potential as a basketball player.
“In 8th grade, our head coach, Dean Bellanti, encouraged me to try out for an AAU team. He saw potential in me, and that began this road,” Cade explained.
The work that goes into reaching success includes practice, and lots of it.
“All the early mornings, late nights, working to get better, this is the result. It’s all worth it,” Cade shared.
Faber ended the evening with another double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. He led Abby with 7 assists and 4 steals.
Faber’s teammates over the years include not only fellow Abbotsford Falcons, but his AAU teammates.
“Teammates that helped me get to this point include teammates here at Abbotsford and also the guys I’ve played alongside during AAU basketball. It’s also been fun playing against many of my AAU teammates in high school basketball,” Cade proudly added. “Everyone I’ve played with and against has been part of the journey, helping me improve as a basketball player.”
| 1 | 2 | F | |
| Prentice | 18 | 36 | 54 |
| Abbotsford | 21 | 38 | 59 |
Prentice
| # | NAME | MIN | FG | FT | 3PT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Layne Blomberg | 0 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 1-4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Kaden Hartmann | 0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Joseph Hueckman | 0 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Reese Isaacson | 0 | 1-3 | 2-3 | 0-2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Alex Schantner | 0 | 5-12 | 0-0 | 1-5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| 12 | Adam Granberg | 0 | 4-15 | 0-0 | 1-8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 22 | Brady Sidenbender | 0 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Ty Heikkinen | 0 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 24 | Micah Harding | 0 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Logan Sarkkinen | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Riley Blomberg | 0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 34 | Ashton Makovsky | 0 | 2-5 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| TOTALS | 19-49 | 6-11 | 6-25 | 30 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 58 |
Abbotsford
| # | NAME | MIN | FG | FT | 3PT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bryce Draper | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Hunter Soyk | 0 | 4-8 | 5-6 | 3-6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| 10 | Cade Faber | 0 | 7-18 | 2-6 | 0-2 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 11 | Mason Carpenter | 0 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Brandon Hawkey | 0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 32 | Brandon Diedrich | 0 | 7-9 | 0-0 | 4-5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| 42 | Adam Diedrich | 0 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| TOTALS | 22-43 | 8-15 | 7-13 | 32 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 59 |
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
