HENDERSON – JF Webb guard Marquee Bis Latta reached the 1,000-point milestone on Wednesday, posting a career-high 37 points in the Warriors’ 103-98 road victory over the Henderson College Eights.
As he was surrounded by friends and family, the packed crowd at Henderson’s Aycock Recreation Center stopped to celebrate his accomplishments and the culmination of four seasons at the varsity level.
Latta, who was Webb’s second-most scorer with 20 points per game, became the first Warrior since 2014 to achieve the impressive feat and the fifth in program history to do so.
“It feels good,” said Latta. “It’s a great achievement and I’ve been working on it for four years. I was thrilled when I won, I was happy when I won.”
The emphasis on winning embodies the mindset and humility of Latta who ultimately acknowledged the efforts of his teammates on the road to success.
“It’s really thanks to my teammates that I got the 1,000 ball. We go fight each other every game,” said Latta. “We’re not selfish on offense, we just want to win. Little things like moving the ball and communicating go a long way. We’re like brothers.”
For head coach Alex Tharp, the senior guard achievement marked uncharted territory in his coaching career.
“As a head coach, it’s the first time I’ve had someone score 1,000 points,” Tharp said. “That’s a big deal. He scored 910 points with me. It’s great to see him grow and get better every year and play through the 12-game Covid season. Very good from Markeevis.” is impressive.”
Latta has averaged 17.7 points or more on pace in three of his four seasons with the Warriors, but Tharp acknowledged those scoring numbers came naturally, not the result of a shot galore. There is
“You don’t have to worry about him, ‘Can I get to 20?’ there will be.”
Latta stressed the importance of making winning plays instead of focusing or worrying about your stats.
This selflessness from not just a standout guard, but from the entire Webb roster puts them 10-5 overall, 3-1 in conference play, and a chance at a Northern Lakes Athletic Conference title.
“Our goal was always to win 2A,” Tharp said. “We’re going to make the playoffs and make some noise. Starting with winning 2A, we’re going to go as far as we can. [conference]”
For a group that has been working towards this moment for over three years, Tharp knows that whether it needs 60 points or 100 points to secure a victory, he will do whatever it takes to secure the victory. increase.
“I’m going to fight no matter what, so I have a chance,” Tharp said. “I’m going to play 32 minutes a night at 84 feet, harder than anyone else. We’re going to chase it.”
With nine games left in the regular season for Latta and the team, Tarp’s coaching title may be limited by his schedule, but the relationship between the two extends beyond his basketball career at Oxford. It will be.
The trust and confidence invested in him by the head coach was attributed to his scoring achievements, creating a bond that would last a lifetime.
“Your corner needs a coach who believes in you and gives you all the credit to play right,” Latta said. “Having someone like Tharp believe in me and in everything he does for me means so much. I can’t say enough.”