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Thom, who earlier this season broke the school assists record and scored his 1,000th career point, erupted for 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to break Nick DiMaggio’s record of 1,087 points.
The guard needed 24 points entering the game to surpass DiMaggio. Thom scored just six points in the first half and two in the third quarter. But with his team trailing Horace Greeley by nine late in the third, Thom found his groove and led his team to a 62-56 victory in the consolation game of the Budries Tournament at Yorktown.
Breaking the record, he said, was just a bonus.
“I was trying to think about the game and not think about that at the time,” Thom said. “We had all the time after the game to think about it.”
Thom finished the game with 1,090 career points.
Croton called timeout once Thom broke the record and the announcer informed the crowd of his accomplishment. Thom received the game ball and earned all-tournament honors.
The Tigers had lost two games in a row before Monday’s game. But Thom took over in the fourth quarter to ensure that his team would avoid a three-game slide. He hit a few deep three-pointers and got to the free throw line to help seal the victory.
“We just battled one out that we probably could have easily lost,” said Ian’s coach and father, Bill Thom.
The younger Thom has had a remarkable two months and now owns both the scoring and assists records at Croton. But both father and son said they are ready to put the milestones in the past and focus on the goal of reaching the County Center again in the playoffs.
“I think it was a little bit relieving because we can really get down to basketball now,” Bill Thom said. “We’ll probably enjoy them a heck of a lot more once the season’s done.”
Ian, too, has a renewed purpose.
“They’re over. They’re done with,” Thom said. “Now we’ve just got to focus on that gold ball at the end.”
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