It was a great night for the JWP boys’ basketball team when they beat Medford 79-21 on Tuesday, January 7. But nobody had a better time than junior Daulton Bauer.
During the game, he scored his 1,000th point. With 2:03 left in the first half, he intercepted a pass from Medford and went on a fast break for a layup to hit the milestone.
Even after having an hour or two to enjoy the girls beating Medford, he was very excited. “It feels great,” he said. “This has been one of my goals since freshman year.”
He gave due credit to his teammates over the years who have helped him become one of the leading scorers for this Bulldogs’ squad. “They contributed a lot, and they’re the reason why I got a thousand today.”
Bauer did admit to having it in the back of his mind since the season began. “I knew where I was at least a year. So, I figured that it would happen sometime this year. I wasn’t trying to chase it or anything. But these past two games have been on my mind.”
Daulton is incredibly grateful for his parents and other family. “They’ve always been supportive, and so have my friends,” he said. “My teammates have always been there for me, giving me the opportunity to score 1,000. It all starts with them. It takes a village, and I got a good one behind me.”
As is usually common in basketball – especially in a small town – Bauer has had the pleasure of playing with his younger brother, Gavin, who is a freshman at JWP. Gavin has been on the team since 7th grade and received significant starting time last year. Both have been the top two scorers in almost every game, occasionally switching places as top scorers.
“It’s really bittersweet watching him grow up and grow as a player,” he said. “He’s exceptionally good for his age, and he’s only going to improve. I’m excited to see what the future brings for him.”
With the milestone in the rearview mirror, Bauer does have other goals in mind, but they are not his primary focus. “I want to go for more milestones, but I won’t push for it. If I get another goal, I get it. But I’m thankful that I could achieve what I did today.”
After the game, Bauer was given a banner celebrating his achievement. He took a picture with his teammates and had time to celebrate with his family after the girls’ game. Congrats to Daulton Bauer on his achievement!
