By JORDAN ELLISON
for the Daily Telegraph
GARDNER — It seemed like just a blowout for the PikeView Panthers in their 92-34 victory over the James Monroe Mavericks until the final minutes of the game when two milestones were passed by the Panthers.
First, with 2:59 to go in the game Tyler Ruble scored his 41st point of the night to set the single game scoring record for the Panthers. Then, just 39 seconds later Jason Weitzel netted his 1,000th career point.
“I didn't think I was close to it at all,” Ruble said. “I came out and I was hot, they just kept getting me the ball and I was just able to play and get where I needed to be at to get the rebounds and the points that we needed.
“I honestly can't say what it means to me because it hasn't sunk in yet. It feels good, I know that.”
Ruble got off to a quick start in the contest to help the Panthers jump out to an early lead. He had 12 points in the first quarter and added another nine points in the second to help the Panthers secure a 40-20 halftime lead.
“Tyler was willing to work, having his typical game and playing really hard,” PikeView head coach Colton Thompson said. “At one point I looked at Coach (Tucker) Meadows and asked where he was at right now and we were really early in the second quarter and we realized he was having a really good game.”
Weitzel, meanwhile, struggled early on in the first half, scoring just six points. In the third quarter though he was able to find his flow. Weitzel and Ruble each scored 12 points to help PikeView push its lead up to 71-28 at the end of the third quarter.
“I felt like I was forcing it in the first quarter and I wasn't able to do much,” said Weitzel. “After that I settled down and I was able to make some easy shots and free throws and really got going.”
In the fourth quarter as the moments wound down Ruble reached his milestone first, followed closely by Weitzel.
“It feels amazing to score 1,000 points,” Weitzel said. “I've been playing since I was a freshman and I have never tried to go for any personal goals.
“It's always nice when I am able to get something like this and my teammates are happy for me, it's just a really nice feeling especially in front of the home crowd.”
Thompson also shared his thoughts on the milestones.
“To see them both hit their milestones so close together was really special and everybody on the team was really excited to see it happen,” Thompson said. “It's really awesome to see two guys hit a personal career goal and a personal single game goal with everybody from the first person on the floor to the last person off the bench equally excited to see them get the milestone.”
Following a timeout to acknowledge Weitzel's milestone and to present him with the game ball, the Panthers finished off the Mavericks.
“Overall we were really happy with our defense” Thompson said. “We had some trouble giving up the three to James Monroe last time, they have some kids that can really knock it down.
“We were trying to protect the paint and still honor those 3-point shots that they are capable of hitting. Offensively, I felt from the beginning to the end we had a really good flow in transition and in the half court sets.”
PikeView was led by Ruble's 41 points and 12 rebounds. Weitzel had 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Seth Wood added 13 points and 12 rebounds.
James Monroe was led by Tyler Moore with eight points and two rebounds. Caleb Spencer added seven points while Connor Boothe grabbed five rebounds.
PikeView will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Summers County. James Monroe travels the same night to Mount View.

at PikeView High School
JAMES MONROE (34)
Caleb Spencer 7, Lance Wilson 3, Dominic Lewis 4, Connor Booth 4, Landon Shires 2, Caleb Hatfield 2, Tyler Moore 8, Jeffrey Lewis 4
PIKEVIEW (92)
Austin Hazelwood 3, Seth Wood 13, Seth Meadows 4, Hunter Hill 3, Tyler Ruble 41, Jason Weitzel 26, Jacob Harmon 2
James Monroe…............ 6 14 8 6 — 34
PikeView………….........19 21 31 21 — 92