GMG senior Jabari Woodbury smiles while holding his 1,000 career points banner last Friday in the GMG High School gym in Garwin following the Wolverines’ defeat of the Collins-Maxwell Spartans, 86-75. Woodbury scored 22 points total during the game including his 1,000th career point. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMMY WOODBURY

GARWIN – The GMG boys’ basketball team used a balanced attack to bounce Collins-Maxwell in last Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division game, 86-75, but one player certainly stood out above the rest – senior Jabari Woodbury who, while piling up 22 points total against the Spartans, scored his 1,000th career point in front of a hometown crowd.

“The crowd was pretty excited for him,” Woodbury’s mom and head coach Tammy Woodbury told the Sun Courier.

It has been close to 30 years since a GMG basketball player netted a career 1,000 points, Coach Woodbury said.

“I have been doing some digging and the last I could find was JC Welton, a graduate of 1997.”

Woodbury is the top Wolverine scorer this season with 297 points – sinking close to 52% of his field goals. As of Tuesday this week, he was also fifth in Class 1A for free throws made this season with 68.

Wolverine Jabari Woodbury (12) pictured scoring his 1,000th point during last Friday’s home game with Collins-Maxwell. Woodbury sank the milestone shot against Spartans defender Josef Dvorak (13). PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMMY WOODBURY

While reaching the milestone achievement Friday evening, Woodbury led his team against the Spartans with 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

Six GMG players scored at least eight points for the Wolverines; Woodbury had 22, Grady Dieleman had 18, Kaleb Gill had 14, Rider Kupka scored 13 off the bench, Anthony Waters had 11, and Colin Teske tallied eight.

The Spartans had 18 turnovers (to the Wolverines’ seven) with GMG notching 10 steals total on the night.

Also on Friday night, GMG winter sports seniors were honored.

The boys basketball roster this year includes three seniors: Kaleb Gill, Anthony Waters (captain), and Woodbury (captain).

GMG basketball standout Jabari Woodbury (front row, third from right) smiles alongside his teammates last Friday in the GMG High School gym after notching his 1,000th career point against Collins-Maxwell. Team manager Matthew DeSchamp, right, is also pictured. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMMY WOODBURY

Heading into Tuesday’s road game with Baxter (12-3), GMG (7-9) was on a three game win streak and fifth in the conference (5-6).

After facing the Bolts, the Wolverines were scheduled to host BGM (7-10) on Thursday (Feb. 1) before traveling to Belle Plaine (13-3) on Friday to face the Plainsmen and then back at home again on Saturday to host North Tama (6-9) in a rescheduled game that was postponed due to weather on Jan. 16.

Tipoff on Saturday against the Redhawks is set for 3:30 p.m. in Garwin following the 2 p.m. girls game.

The following Monday, GMG travels to East Marshall (4-12).

Members of Jabari Woodbury’s cheering section pictured last Friday night in Garwin in the home team section during the Wolverines’ game with Collins-Maxwell. Woodbury scored his 1,000th career point during the game — a feat not accomplished by a GMG basketball player since JC Welton who graduated in 1997. PHOTO BY ANGIE LARSON/GMG SCHOOLS