This upcoming week should bring about two major milestones for two Otterbein basketball players. Both senior Amariah Huck of the women's team and junior Jake Phillis of the men's team are nearing 1000 points in their respective careers.
After both teams defeated Muskingum on Saturday afternoon, Huck needs just four points to get to 1000 while Phillis needs 30 to hit the mark. In the all-time Cardinal rankings, Huck sits at 17th overall and would be the 17th woman in Cardinal history to reach the 1000 mark. Phillis is currently outside of the top 20 and would be the 25th man in Cardinal history to reach 1000 points in his career.
So far this season, the women's basketball team has had more success overall than the men's team. The women currently sit at 9-10 overall and 4-8 in the OAC, while the men are 4-15 and 2-10 in the OAC. However, Phillis is having more individual success scoring, as the junior is averaging 18 points a game while Huck is averaging 14 per game.
When asked about the significance of 1000 points, Huck said: "I think it would make the ending on my career feel more complete. The friendships I've made and opportunities and life lessons I have experienced because of basketball mean the world to me, but scoring 1000 points and leaving my mark on this program is just an extra bonus to be proud of and a memory I can keep as a future alum."
Phillis commented on that same question: "1000 points would mean a lot to me and all the work I have put into the game. It's a great honor to be put in that club, but I couldn't do it without the help of my teammates, coaches and parents."
Huck also described what the feeling to be just the 17th woman to reach 1000 points in Otterbein history might feel like: "It's almost hard to believe. The women's basketball program here has come a long way and I am extremely grateful to have the honor to be able to be one of the few to reach that goal."
As a junior, Phillis will have an opportunity to move up into the top 15 all-time in Otterbein men's history next season: "Coming into college I never really thought much of it or had goals like that. It's great if I can get there by the time I'm done, but it would be even better if I could finish my career helping this team get back to the top of the OAC."
The women will play Wednesday at home against John Carroll, where Amariah Huck will likely reach the 1000 point mark, and the men will play at John Carroll that same evening.
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