Pfister joins 1,000-1,000 club as GMC slaughters Saluda

Jack Pfister became the only player in GMC history to grab 1,000 rebounds and score 1,000 points after collecting 18 points and 16 rebounds in a playoff win over Saluda.

Not long ago, Jack Pfister found himself looking at an old photo of himself. It was from his freshman year playing basketball at Greer Middle College.

The now-senior center shook his head as he admired it.

“I was so thin back then,” Pfister said. “I looked like a twig.”

Pfister—now much bigger and stronger at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds—smiled as he thought back on his younger days. GMC’s star big man had just put up 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Blazers to a dominant 73-31 victory over Saluda in the first round of the Class 2-A playoffs.

Pfister’s final rebound of the night gave him 1,000 for his career. He stands as the only player in GMC history to score 1,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds.

He didn’t always think it was possible. Pfister realized before his junior year that he could be on pace to reach quadruple digits. After he came down with rebound No. 1000 late against Saluda, the announcement was made over the PA system in the Blazers’ gym.

Pfister smiled as his teammates mobbed him and fans chanted his name.

“It feels great knowing that I’m the first to reach the mark,” said Pfister. “There’s a good chance I’ll be the only one in that category for a long time to come. Coming into my freshman year, I knew I wanted 1,000 points. But 1,000 rebounds I knew would be special.”

“Jack came in and from day one has been working for this,” said GMC head coach Jamar Armstrong. “He’s worked himself into becoming the player he’s become. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

Pfister’s 18 and 16 performance was just a small part of GMC’s rout of Saluda. Braylen Silver caught fire from deep again, finishing with 23 points on five made three-pointers.

Defensively, the Blazers were as stout as they’d been all season. They held the Tigers to just six first-half points on 10 percent shooting from the field.

“We wanted to make it a half-court game tonight and shut down their driving lanes to the basket,” said Armstrong. “We’ve played solid defense all year long. That’s what we pride ourselves on.”

With the game being out of hand, GMC was able to insert all 12 players on the roster into the game. The game’s final bucket was a corner three-pointer from senior Andre McCullough that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

McCullough came into the game with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I was honestly just wanting the clock to run down,” said McCullough, laughing. “I told myself ‘If I get a shot, I get a shot,’ so I took it.”

McCullough—a beloved senior at GMC—put the finishing touches on the Blazer blowout with his three. Now, GMC turns its attention to a Friday showdown at home with Strom Thurmond.

The winner will advance to the Class 2-A quarterfinals.

“Trust me, it’s going to ‘get real’ real quick,” said Armstrong. “That game isn’t going to be like tonight’s. We won’t be able to play 12 guys in that one. [Strom Thurmond] is a good team and we’re going to have our hands full.”

Editor’s Note: GMC would fall to Strom Thurmond in the second round of the Class 2-A playoffs. The Blazers were downed 51-37 at home by the Rebels. They finished the season with a 22-6 record.

THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
Saluda 5 1 14 11 - 31
GMC 10 18 25 20 - 73

GMC STAT LEADERS
Braylen Silver - 23 points, 2 steals
Jack Pfister - 18 points, 16 rebounds
Nick Dyenson - 10 points, 6 rebounds
Titus Shenton - 8 points, 7 assists, 11 rebounds