BLANCHESTER, Ohio — Blanchester senior guard Brayden Sipple entered the Ohio High School Athletic Association boys basketball career points list on Tuesday night.
Sipple, who signed with Cedarville University, is No. 26 on the state's all-time scoring list with 2,230 points.
The minimum career total to enter the state list is 2,200 points.
Sipple scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds along with two steals, an assist and a block in the Wildcats' 87-79 loss to Franklin Tuesday night.
He was 12 of 18 from the field. He was 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.
"His leadership and ability to endure constant double- and triple-teams and still find a way to carry the team has been nothing but historical for our program," Blanchester coach Adam Weber said.
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Sippleis three points from tying for No. 25 in state history with West Lafayette's Jerry Legge (1951-55).
Sipple is 98 points from tying former NBA player and Ohio State standout Jim Jackson.Jackson scored 2,328 career points at Toledo Macomber from 1985 to 1989.
Tuesday night was the eighth time this season that Sipple has scored 30 or more points in a game.
Sipple, who was also a standout quarterback on the Blanchester football football team this past fall, has scored 40 or more points in three games this winter.
"Our community is so proud of him, not just for what he does on the field or the court, but because of how he carries himself on a daily basis," Blanchester athletic director Brad Ballinger said. "He is one of the most polite young men that I have ever met. He is almost always in a positive mood. He is a diligent worker. He is more humble than most would be with that much ability. He is an outstanding role model for the youth of our community. He is an easy kid to root for, and that's why everyone here loves him."
Weber was impressed with Sipple's composure Tuesday night despite stifling defense by Franklin (8-1).
"He was not allowed to breathe without a defender's hand on him, and the instant he touches it a second defender was on him - and he still hung 33 and almost pulled out an incredible upset," Weber said.
Blanchester (7-4) is scheduled to next play at Georgetown (8-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Weber continues to be impressed by the team's performance this season.
"To say this is a historical run for our program and community would almost be an understatement," he said.
The Wildcats have six additional regular-season games scheduled after Friday night.
"This final run of scoring down the stretch, the box score could be scary," Weber said.
