Prolific scorers set records at Berlin

BERLIN - Entering this season, Berlin high school basketball had seen one player, boy or girl, ever eclipse the 1,000-point career scoring mark. That number has tripled with this year’s graduating class, featuring arguably the two best basketball players the school has ever seen.

“It's overwhelming, it's so cool, it doesn't feel real,” said Berlin senior Callie Walker.  “It's like a dream, it's really exciting."

Walker crossed the 1,000 point barrier earlier this year, and is now the Indians’ all-time girls basketball leading scorer. She’ll play at UW-Oshkosh next season. She’s not alone in her record-setting ways.

"It's nuts, freshman year I would've never guessed I'd be here,” said Indians senior Toby Hegner.

The 6’9 Hegner is committed to play for Creighton next season, and is Berlin’s all-time boys leading scorer.

Now comes the race for the school’s overall scoring mark. Walker has the lead, currently sitting at 1,152 career points. Hegner scores has ground to make up, checking in right now at 1,093 career points. Hegner does score more per game on average, 21.1 per game to Walker's 18 per game, but Walker has more regular season games remaining, since boys basketball gets to the playoffs earlier.

There is no rivalry, however, between the two for the overall scoring mark.

"It doesn't matter who gets it,” said Walker. “He deserves it. If he beats me, that's fine.  He's awesome, he works hard, too. We grew up together, we're really good friends."

Hegner feels the same way, and appreciates the accomplishments to this point in his career.

"It's a huge accomplishment, I set that goal as a freshman, coming into high school, I want to be the guy to break the record,” said Hegner. “Now that it's come true, it's an unbelievable feeling."

Coaches describe both players in similar ways: both are gym rats, both unselfish in their play despite gaudy scoring numbers.

“Such good kids, so humble and level-headed,” said Berlin boys basketball coach Andy Kasuboski. “They both understand it's a team game first, without team success, the individual stuff doesn't mean quite as much."

Having arguably the two best players the school has ever seen pays dividends in other ways, from fans in the stands to an expanding youth basketball program in Berlin.

"It kind of brought the school together,” said girls basketball coach Joel Johansen. “We see more kids in the student section, parents are getting fired up about it. It's kind of cool to see."