The Beyer High boys basketball team hit a cold stretch during the second quarter against Davis High in a Western Athletic Conference matchup. Shots weren’t falling and the defense also wasn’t working.
It seemed like everything was going wrong. Until it wasn’t. Enter Prince Major.
The senior guard has come through in big ways for the Patriots during his career, including hitting a buzzer beater to send a game against Turlock into overtime, but Friday night’s effort might just be his best showing yet.
The 6-foot guard went off for a career-high 38 points, pouring in nine three-pointers to power the Patriots to a 59-44 win, keeping their playoff hopes alive as the Western Athletic Conference’s No. 3 seed.
“He’s just a kid that in big moments, he loves that,” Beyer coach Kyle McKim said of Major. “You can see it, he just loves the big moments, when some of our younger guys are faltering a little bit he just steps up.”
After the graduation of six seniors and two leading scorers from last year’s season, Beyer has needed Major’s leadership this year more than ever. He’s stepped up, teaching a squad that receives key contributions from a number of freshmen and sophomores. He hands out high fives like Halloween candy and constantly offers teammates advice.