Flick reaches 1,000 points in loss to CT

DAVIDSVILLE — Richland's Kyle Flick wasn't worried about scoring the 1,000th point of his career Monday. He was more worried about helping his team attempt to rally in a 67-52 loss at Conemaugh Township.

 

"I knew I would get it eventually," Flick, who averages 16 points per game, said of the milestone. "I just do what ever works for my team.

 

"I didn't know how close I was until a couple of days ago. When I found out, I was pretty happy. I remember when Derek Malzi did it a couple of years ago (2010-11), coach looked at me and said I could be the next one to do it. I kept that in the back of my mind."

 

The junior guard needed 16 points entering the nonconference game. He had seven points at the half and nine after three quarters. He scored on a layup and drained a three to get to within two of the mark.

 

With 1:42 left in the game, Flick slashed his way to the hoop and was fouled as he let the ball go. The bucket counted and the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he was presented the game ball, which he took to his mother. When play resumed, he missed the free throw to finish with 16 points.

 

Head coach Greg Burke praised Flick's play the past three years by saying Flick has a lot of basketball sense.

 

"As a freshman he came off the bench and averaged 11 points a game," Burke said. "Kyle had the right guys — leaders — ahead of him to fill that spot he is in now. He is usually the high scorer for us. When he is on the court, he is always making something happen. He doesn't shoot a lot of three's. He slashes and goes to the hole. He gets steals and creates turnovers that allows him to reward himself at the other end with a basket. Kyle did that as a freshman and he has continued to do that even as more teams focus on him defensively."

 

Playing solid defense was exactly what Conemaugh Township wanted to do against the Rams (10-11).

 

The Indians opened the first quarter with some lackluster shooting, but defensively they held the Rams to an even worse shooting percentage.

 

Conemaugh Township broke a 13-8 point lead open in the second quarter.