North Callaway senior Sam Pezold had a “rush of satisfaction” on Thursday at the Centralia Invitational.

Centralia Invitational Boys Day 2 Photo Gallery

The Thunderbirds aren’t playing on Saturday after being eliminated by Boonville 61-49 in the consolation bracket, but Pezold scored his 1,000th career point as he led North Callaway with 19 points, six steals, five assists, five rebounds and four 3-pointers. Isiah Craighead followed with eight points and eight rebounds, and Austin Brown also had eight points.

Pezold became the second Thunderbird in as many seasons to reach the 1,000-point milestone after Matthew Weber did the same last season. It was appropriate that the guard who has made 159 3-pointers and counting in four varsity seasons accomplished the feat on a deep shot with 2:29 left to play in the second quarter, cutting Boonville’s lead to 25-22. A flood of “1000” signs covered a section of the bleachers as both teams took a quick timeout to acknowledge Pezold.

“It is a rush of satisfaction because it’s not just the points you score in the game, it’s the work you put in the offseason,” Pezold said. “It was a sign of relief.”

Pezold found ways to break free from the Boonville defense in the first half, hitting all of his 3-pointers and scoring 15 of his points in the first half. North Callaway (1-3) trailed 30-25 at halftime and felt like it was in the game with a half of basketball to play.

Head coach Matt Miller said it is a rarity and pleasure to coach two 1,000-point kids in back-to-back seasons, and Pezold has always had the skillset and character to reach this point.

“People see the 1,000 points, they see the all-conferences, the all-districts and all the accolades, but they don’t see the time he puts into it, how hard he works and how much he cares,” Miller said. “He’s the leading scorer on the team, but he’s also the best teammate on the team.”

Miller said Pezold’s teammates were proud of him and deserve credit for passing him the ball and setting screens for him, for which Pezold is aware and is appreciative. In the first half, Miller was witnessing all of that.

“He plays with a lot of confidence,” Miller said. Every time he shoots it, he doesn’t hope it’s going to go in but knows it’s going to go in. He does a great job of moving without the basketball. He doesn’t force things that really aren’t there and plays within the flow of the game.”

Pezold said he is fortunate to have been able to play in 25 games his freshman year as the program was on its upswing that culminated in a district title last season, which he values more than his 1,000th point and “wouldn’t trade that for anything.” That early experience made the difference in his development as a player and as a teammate, getting to know the other guys. He is also thankful for his mother and grandmother, who are his biggest supporters.

“They needed some outside shooters, and that’s what I brought to the table,” Pezold said. “I wasn’t really expecting to start as a freshman, but I just took it and ran with it.”

Boonville (3-1) was aware how dangerous Pezold was as he was held scoreless in the third quarter and had knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers in the fourth. 

North Callaway became aware just how dangerous Evan Bishop is when he finished with 23 points and six 3-pointers. It took a couple of wide open 3-pointers to put the Thunderbirds in a 36-25 hole less than two minutes into the second half and call a timeout.

“He’s 6-foot-4, skilled and athletic,” Miller said. “That was the key going in, trying to limit his 3s early on. We were contesting them, he was missing them, and as the game wore on, they did a good job of running him off screens to free him open.”

 The Pirates then used its active defense to add to the margin until it grew to 45-33 at the end of the third quarter. North Callaway just couldn’t replicate the success it had in the first quarter, when it led 12-8.

“They’re so long, big and athletic, and they play their zone so wide that it gives you problems,” Miller said. “We did a really good job in the first quarter, but as the game went on, their defense picked up, we’d have a poor defensive possession ourselves and — we’re still a young team trying to figure things out — we come out and try to get offense right away instead of just working the ball.”

On Tuesday, North Callaway lost 72-32 to Hallsville (4-0) despite Isiah Craighead finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds and two 3-pointers.

Ladybirds' Centralia Invitational wraps up with fifth place after season-highs in points, 3-pointers

The North Callaway girls started out hot from the field and stayed that way on Friday.

The Ladybirds defeated Macon 68-54, achieving new season-highs in points and 3-pointers after hitting 11-of-18 from beyond the arc, to earn fifth place in the Centralia Invitational. North Callaway shot 57 percent from the field and hit 16-of-23 free throws.

"Our shooting did a great job both on 3s adn when they saw an opening, they did a great job driving against their man-to-man," head coach Andrew Klein said.

Natalie Shryock led North Callaway (3-2) with 26 points, five 3-pointers and four rebounds, Riley Blevins capped an all-tournament week with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three 3-pointers, Abrielle Burgher had 12 points, four rebounds and two 3-pointers, and Lakyn Hartley finished with nine points and five assists. Blevins averaged 16 points and 5.7 rebounds in three tournament games.

The Ladybirds made their first four 3-point attempts in the first quarter for a 20-16 end-of-quarter lead prior to falling behind Macon (2-5) 35-31 at halftime. The defense stepped up by allowing 19 points in the second half.

North Callaway (1-0 EMO) plays at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Van-Far (1-4, 0-1 EMO) at 7:30 p.m. Monday.