UPPER SANDUSKY — With 4:51 left in both the game and the regular season, Wynford senior Josh Crall made a 3-point basket to become the most prolific scorer in Wynford boys basketball history. The record-breaking feat signified what Crall has been known best for in the past four years, doing his best to put his team in a position to win basketball games.

Entering the game against league-leading Upper Sandusky, he needed 27 points to pass Mike McGuire, who finished his career in 1989 with 1,754 points.

An under-the-basket out-of-bounds play led to a 3-point shot from the left wing. What followed was a subtle fist pump and immediate congratulations from Upper Sandusky Coach Jeff Winslow and Rams player Brett Montgomery.

That’s right, the opposing coach and player were among the first to congratulate Josh on his achievement, and no one seemed surprised. That’s just Josh, a team-first guy who cares about the final team total on the scoreboard and wants to represent his family and the Wynford community the best he can.

“He’s a quality person and I’m glad he was able to accomplish that,” Wynford Coach Steve Mohr said.

Despite needing just one more basket to break the record, Crall continued to keep his teammates involved in the offensive game plan through multiple possessions.

“What people don’t realize, everybody looks at his scoring, but the kid also averages eight rebounds per game and three or four steals per game and gives the ball up and is among the league leaders in assists,” Mohr said.

“I’ve said this before, I’ve had seven or eight all-Ohioans and no one has ever done as much for a team as he has.”

Crall shoots the shot breaking the Wynford all-time scoring record. (Photo courtesy of The Daily Chief-Union)

Anyone who spoke to Crall during the past few weeks would probably have had no idea of the milestone he was chasing, and if game and school officials had not stopped the Royals’ game Friday night at Upper Sandusky, they still wouldn’t know.

Even in his own home, the focus was on the game and the team not the record.

“Honestly, not with (Josh) at all,” Steve, Josh’s father, said. “We may have talked about it a little bit among the family. We knew, but we tried to keep it on a down low.”

Josh’s mother Shelly said it has always been a goal for Josh, but it was never his priority. Both parents said Josh appreciated his accomplishments and accolades, but winning always was number one.

“I don’t like to talk about it. It’s just not me,” Josh said. “I always like to put my team first. I knew about it, but I did not want to talk about it. I just wanted to go out there and play my game and try to get the win most of all.”

Don’t be fooled, though, Josh wanted the record.

“It feels great. It’s just amazing,” Josh said. “It feels good to have all the hard work pay off.”

He did admit, though, the one thing that could have made it better would have been getting the record in W.R. Donnenwirth Gymnasium. Though, a consolation may be he did it in the same gym Ohio high school basketball great Jon Diebler scored his 2,959th point to break the all-time Ohio high school scoring record.

Mohr said he is happy Josh was able to achieve the accomplishment and hopes it inspires future generations like McGuire’s record did for Josh.

Crall poses with his parents and Wynford Coach Steve Mohr (far right). (Photo by James Massara)

“I’m glad he’s able to do it,” Mohr said. “I think when that record was set, not too many people thought it would ever be broken. We’re not talking 1,200 or 1,300, were talking 1,754 points. It’s a heck of an accomplishment and I hope that our younger kids in our program, from Mini Royals on up, recognize the amount of work that it took.

“You don’t get to just do something like that by natural athletic ability. It’s a lot of hard work and work ethic.”

The work ethic began as far back as second grade, when he would suit up and practice every day against his brother, Alex’s sixth-grade team.

“He had a jersey and actually got into a couple games,” Steve Crall said. “Not a lot, but he got in a couple times.”

Fear of the competition, even when that competition was four years older than he was, was never a problem for Josh.

“He chucked up a three the first time he was in, I remember,” Steve said with a laugh. “It didn’t go in.”

Steve and Shelly said they remember Josh battling in the driveway with Alex and his friends.

“They never cut him any breaks,” Shelly said. “And he didn’t want that. He wanted to play like he was one of them. It definitely helped him.”

That passion and drive continued to push Josh throughout his high school career with late nights in the gym, at times, delaying the family dinner, Shelly joked, preparing for the day when the big shot needs made.

“He’s definitely worked for it,” Shelly said.

As Josh’s next step in his career at Tiffin University nears, more big shots may be in his future. He’s happy this one happened, and now the Royals can focus on Fostoria and the Division 3 Sectional Tournament.

“I’m glad to have it over with and excited to go into the tournament game just playing free with the team,” Josh said. Hopefully, we can accomplish bigger things there.”

Despite finishing his senior regular season with 1,757 points, being interviewed by the media, taking picture after picture with family and friends, and getting multiple congratulatory handshakes before he could make his way to the post game locker room, one thing had already taken over his thoughts, the next game.

At Monroeville High School on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m., Josh and the Royals will try to extend their season with a sectional tournament win. As Josh has done over the last four years, he will try to light up the scoreboard, not because he wants to extend his scoring record, but because he’s going to do everything in his power to make the team succeed.

That’s who Josh is. Just ask anyone else, because he probably won’t tell you.