Mars' Locher grows into 1,000-point star
ADAMS TWP — Christian Locher always has known his role with the Mars basketball team. It just seems to change with each year.
Locher has evolved from a freshman who played nearly every game to a sophomore 3-point shooter extraordinaire to a team leader and all-everything guard the past two seasons.
All of that helped Locher accomplish two achievements Jan. 7.
He netted 35 points in a 70-48 victory over Deer Lakes, giving the senior 1,026 points. His four 3-pointers that night gave him a school-record 151, passing Tim Frye's mark of 149.
“The 1,000 points is way more significant,” Locher said. “Coming into my junior year, I knew some of the 3-pointers would be taken away.”
Locher averaged 15.2 points as a sophomore and tallied a county-best and school-record 74 3-pointers playing alongside senior Vinny Smith (17.2 ppg), then averaged 19.3 points per game last year with 46 treys.
After knocking off Highlands in a battle for first place in Section 1-AAA Jan. 11, when Locher scored 26 points and an additional 3-pointer, he is averaging 23.4 points per game and has 15 3-pointers.
Locher opened the season with a 48-point effort in a win over Northgate and has scored 20 or more points in seven of the Planets' first 11 games.
“When I was a sophomore, I was always the 3-point guy. ... I haven't stopped shooting 3s. I won't lie, but I'm a different player now. I can get to the hoop,” Locher said.
Mars coach Rob Carmody knew Locher was going to be a special player when he saw him as a fifth-grader.
“I said to our assistant coach ‘This kid is going to play for us,'” Carmody said. “And when Christian was in the eighth grade and won all the different awards for shooting and points, 80 kids applauded because they knew they'd have a chance next year.”
“His work ethic is amazing,” Carmody added. “I tell all the kids in the youth program, ‘See him play. See his work ethic.” That's his legacy.”
Locher will play at Grove City College next season.
Carmody has witnessed Locher's transformation into the player he is today.
“His game has improved and he's matured,” Carmody said. “His defense, rebounding and leadership — it's grown by leaps and bounds.”
