FOXBURG — When Levi Orton was growing up, he'd often look up at the wall inside the gym at A-C Valley High School and gaze at the list of 1,000-point scorers.

His eyes would train down the names.

And then stop at a familiar one.

Tim Orton — 1,265.

“I just remember thinking, 'That's a lot of points. That's pretty impressive,'” Levi said.

Levi longed for his own impressive career when he got to high school — and maybe even pass his father's prodigious point total.

Now a senior, Levi Orton has done more than eclipse his dad's career.

With 34 points Tuesday at home against Sheffield, Levi passed everyone on that list he used to admire.

He now has 1,669 points. Better than previous record-holder Sean Foust (1,623). Better than Allan Eaton (1,632) and current A-C Valley girls basketball coach Dave Sherman (1,424).

And, yes, better than dear old dad.

Passing his father, though, was the highlight of his race to the top.

“That was a pretty good moment in life,” Levi said. “It was kind of a surreal moment.”

Before the season began, Levi Orton was unsure if any of it would be possible.

Just having a season at all was in doubt because of the COVID-19 pandemic that was raging this winter.

But his senior campaign began, albeit late, and he went to work putting up big numbers.

Orton, a 5-foot-11 guard, is averaging 27.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season.

“Coming into it, I was just sort of happy to be playing at all,” Orton said. “It was senior year and I was feeling pretty luck just to be out there. Just very, very fortunate.”

Orton had his own brush with COVID-19 in the fall, contracting the virus. His symptom were mild, he said.

With no offseason programs of any sort — no AAU and now summer league — Orton did his best to improvise.

He went to a park near his Emlenton home and took shots or played pick-up games every chance he could get. He'd even travel to Knox to another court to get work in.

All the while, he did his best to avoid falling into poor habits.

“I was pretty disciplined,” Orton said. “If you pick up bad habits, you're in a world of trouble.”

Even with teams keying on him this season, Orton has still found ways to score.

He's scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games, including 37 Monday against Moniteau.

“Coming in the second round of playing teams we've already played, that's been the tough part,” Orton said. “Every time I get the ball, I just try to think how can I value that possession and make the most of it? How can we get up on them and win?”

It's not like Orton was a mystery to opponents this season.

In his career, he's averaging 23 points per game.

Orton does it with an uncanny ability to create shots for himself, whether that is from the outside, from driving to the hoop or even by posting up in the paint despite his 5-11 stature.

“It doesn't really matter if coach puts be down low or on the outside,” Orton said. “If I have an open shot, I'm going to take it.”

Orton, though, isn't sure if he's going to take a shot at the next level.

He's still mulling his future, one that may not include college at all.

That's because Orton already runs a thriving law care business that he started two years ago.

He already has 55 clients.

That keeps him extremely busy.

“Last year it was four of us, myself and three other guys,” Orton said. “We do mowing, trimming, shrub work, fall and spring cleanup, mulching.”

If his basketball career is over, Orton said he will miss it but have no regrets.

He can trace his love of basketball all the way back to his first Little Tikes basketball hoop.

“I look back now and it went by so fast,” Orton said. “It seems like it was just yesterday.”