Port alum hits 1,000 points

This wasn’t the run-of-the-mill transition layup that drew a foul.

This hoop and harm meant more to Port Washington alumnus Pat McDonald. The 2015 grad could add a fourth digit to his career scoring at Lakeland University in Sheboygan County.

McDonald wasn’t counting his points but he knew he was close to the 1,000-point milestone during a game on the road at Wisconsin Lutheran College in late January.

Before the possession that put him over the top, a teammate during a timeout told McDonald he was two points away.

“I just continued to play my game. I just kind of let the game come to me, and it did,” he said.

Soon enough, McDonald took a pass in transition.

“I jab stepped toward the baseline, attacked the middle and kinda tossed it up with some contact and drew the foul and made the bucket,” he said.

“It was a very surreal moment.”

McDonald’s teammates on the court congratulated him as he headed to the free-throw line. The bench went crazy.

He promptly back-rimmed the free throw, but still led the Muskies with 22 points in an 89-66 victory on the night.

In the locker room after the game, McDonald was presented with a blank basketball to get imprinted later.

“I wanted all my teammates to sign it. I owe it all to them, really, because they made it possible to reach that milestone. I wanted them to be a part of it,” he said.

“I didn’t think I’d achieve this milestone. I wasn’t keeping track at all.”

McDonald, a 5 foot, 11-inch guard, averaged 15.8 points per game and was named to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference first team, one year after earning honorable mention.

He shot 50.3% from the field and 42% from three-point range. He made 77% of his free throws.

The Muskies finished 12-8 in the NACC and 16-10 overall. In postseason, they advanced to the NACC quarterfinals.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my team and the outcome of my season,” he said.

McDonald is majoring in business administration with a focus on finance and insurance. He is a 2015 graduate of Port Washington and averaged 11.2 points per game in his senior season with the Pirates.