Troxell scores 1,000 points
February 26, 2021
By Sabrina Safadi, Opinion Editor
On Feb, 25, senior triathlete Derek Troxell became the 12th male and 22nd person to reach 1,000 points in Catasauqua basketball history. Troxell scored a 3-pointer during the first quarter of the Pen Argyl game to seal the deal of his 1,000 point career. It all started December 12, 2017 when freshman Derek Troxell scored his first varsity career points, not knowing where this would all end. It began with a 3-pointer and Troxell finished it the same way.
Fellow captain Cole Schiffer assisted the three-pointer that put Troxell at 1,000.
“Once I passed him the ball in the corner for that three, I started walking back knowing it was going in and that was it,” said Schiffer. “That’s my brother, and it just ended up with me making one of the most important passes in his career. He deserves this because he’s worked every day since we were younger to be at the point he’s at now, and all that work has finally paid off.”
It was a big night for Troxell, as he beat both Palisades and Pen Argyl in a home-court doubleheader. He started off the evening needing 27 points to reach his goal. At the conclusion of the first game, he only needed six more points. Intensity and a whirl of emotions stirred through Troxell as he approached his target.
“I felt confident going into the second game,” said Troxell. “I wanted to get it out of the way early on so all we needed to worry about was getting the win.”
Earlier in the season, Troxell suffered an injury to his labrum that put his scoring career into question. Team losses, injury and COVID-19 setbacks did not stop Troxell from accomplishing his desires and ambitions.
“It's still an unreal feeling,” said Troxell. “I haven't been able to even process that I accomplished this goal. I'm so happy I could do it in front of my family and have them watch a moment like this. Having my dad there and him being able to come along on this journey with me was very important to me.”
Troxell and the Rough Riders will continue their season in the first round of District XI playoffs on Mar. 4.