by Jay Lawson
Last week it was reported that varsity basketball player Tyler Fenton set a Town of Webb single-game scoring mark when he poured in 42 points against Remsen on Monday, January 25.
This week, Webb’s hot scoring continued when Shane Kimball bested Tyler’s performance by a couple when he scored 44 points against Owen D. Young on Tuesday, February 1.
This level of proficiency hadn’t been seen from a Webb player since John Clark’s 41 points in 1980.
And, though these scoring performances are tops in the modern era (arbitrarily started at the advent of the “leather shoe”), the all-time school record is to be found in the days when canvas high-tops ruled the court, both black or white.
That’s when Don Hodel showed Chamberlain-esque dominance in a game by scoring 51 points for the Town of Webb varsity team.
This feat happened in 1962, Hodel’s junior year, when Old Forge defeated Forestport 92–29.
This information was not available in Town of Webb school athletic records, which apparently have some gaps.
The information was however unearthed by the Town of Webb Historical Association, which found it among its archives in a Utica Daily Press newspaper article published on January 13, 1962.
Not content with just the top spot, Don nailed down second on the single-game list with a 50-point effort in the same season.
This happened in a game against Port Leyden, one of the top teams in Webb’s former Lewneida League, according to the Webb Historical Association.
Of note, Don Hodel was able to perform his scoring feats without benefit of the three-point shot, which had yet to be incorporated into the game.
So, the all-time leader board of single-game scorers, as best as can be established from known records, stands as follows.
1. Don Hodel, 51 pts. (1961-62)*
2. Don Hodel, 50 pts. (1961-62)*
3. Shane Kimball, 44 pts. (2015-16)
4. Tyler Fenton, 42 pts. (2015-16)
5. John Clark, 41 pts. (1979-80)*
Rather impressive is two current players having landed among the top three all-time within a two-week period.
And the season is not over yet…
*Prior to 3-point shots and the shot clock