Congratulations to Sam Clachko!
The Staples High School gym rocked last night, as the basketball quad-captain scored the 1,000th point of his career.
And he’s only a junior.
Clachko’s milestone came on a twisting layup, early in the 4th quarter of the Wreckers’ 85-53 demolition of Darien.
Sam Clachko scores hsi 1,000th point.
After a slow first quarter start — which began with him 31 points away from 1,000 — Clachko caught fire. Teammates set him up, knowing the next 2 games will be away. A raucous student section — letting loose after the last day of final exams — urged him on.
But Clachko was unselfish. Several times he fed teammates, rather than taking a shot.
The last previous boys basketball player to reach 1,000 points was John Baumann, in 2004. Arianna Gerig is the most recent Wrecker, on the girls’ side.
When Clachko scored his 1,000th (and 1,001st) points, his teammates mobbed him. He received the game ball, as a momento. Coach Dave Goldshore gave him the rest of the night off.
Staples is now 9-0. Another goal lies ahead: the FCIAC and state tournaments.
Sam Clachko, with coach Dave Goldshore after the game. (Photos courtesy of StaplesBasketball.com)
NY Knicks here we come!
Ernie Grunfeld from forest hills Queens who I played against was on the Knicks Sam is a great player. I enjoy learning about sports.
Nice job Sam. (It’d be nice Dan – (Woog, not Katz) if you could publish a complete list of the SHS 1,000 Point Club roster). Staples B-Ball is 9-0. Soccer has never not had a winning season (due largely to the efforts of the legendary Coach Woog). Football just completed an umpteenth slaughtering of the state’s competition (sorry about the championship but kissing your sister isn’t all that bad (unless it’s my sister) we all know just how “special” the histories of tennis and cross-country(THANKS Laddie, my Mahackeno counselor before they turned it into another Planet Fitness) are.
SO!!!! Where do the parents of Westport get off trying to second-guess the coaches on how/who to coach? If you’re going to make omelette you have to break egg. Guidance counselors exist to soothe wounded egos.
Thanks, Eric. Much appreciated. For the record, Staples soccer has had only 2 losing seasons since its founding 66 years ago, in 1958. Still a pretty good record!
And here are the other members of the boys’ 1,000 point club:
John Baumann, Class of 2004 – 1,683 career points, all-time leading scorer
Dom Calise, ’79 – 1,525
Mark Cizynski, ’73 – 1,143
Michael McCurdy, ’00 – 1,131
Peter van Siclen, ’96 – 1,006
Dave Kashetta, ’00 – 1,003
Jerry Cizynski, 82 – 1,000+
Artay Drinks, ’90 – 1,000+
Congratulations.. that’s quite an accomplishment. Hope you go on to a terrific college season and maybe beyond
We were at the game last night. It was LOUD – the crowd was great in supporting Sam!
Staples Boys Basketball is really fun to watch because they’re great passers of the ball, unselfish, and play very good defense.
We happened to be sitting just behind Sam’s mom, it was very cool to see her reaction and Coach Goldshore come over to congratulate her.
Congratulations to Sam!