OIL CITY, Pa. – Andrew Burda wrote his name into the school and District 9 record-book in a way that he will never forget.
The Venango Catholic senior scored 52 points, including his 1,000th career point, in an 80-55 win over visiting Forest Area.
Burda needed 46 points to reach 1,000 and said he wasn’t even thinking about the mark, only getting close enough to reach it Friday.
But the sharpshooter, who added eight rebounds and four steals, realized in warmups that he might have the hot hand and then proceeded to score 35 first-half points, including 20 in the second quarter.
Needing 11 for the milestone, he reached it on a 3-pointer late in the third quarter and then added six more fourth-quarter points.
Burda talked about the accomplishment
Burda is just the third District 9 player since the start fo the 2001 season to reach 50 points in a game joining Andrew Bucheit of Kane (56 points Jan. 26, 2017) and Calvin Grumley of Johnsonburg (Dec. 29, 2006).
He is also the eighth-known District 9 boys’ player to score 50 in a game. The other known ones are Shane Goss of Cameron County (56 in 1999), George Wise of Clearfield (54 in 1957), Andrew Gustafson of Kane (52 in 1991), Brandon Housler of Cameron County (51 in 1999), and Robert Zanella of Karns City (50 Jan. 16, 1979 vs. Clarion at home).
Jake Liederbach added 10 points in the win for the Vikings.
Colton Kuntz led Forest Area with 13 points with Allen Johnston and Brett Banks each added 10 for the Fires.
Watch Burda’s 52-point game via Venango Region Catholic School Facebook (the 1,000-point moment came at 1:11:34)
