FORT KENT, Maine — Fort Kent Community High School basketball player Austin Delisle scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday, but it wasn’t his only achievement.
Fort Kent won 81-36, with Delisle scoring a third of the Warriors’ points.
Delisle is the second sibling in his family to achieve that status, which occurred during the Warriors’ last regular home game of the season against Central Aroostook of Mars Hill. Delisle’s accomplishment came despite COVID-19 cutting the 2020-21 season short and causing interruptions in the 2021-22 schedule.
“I knew I was close,” Delisle said. “I was glad I could still reach my 1,000 even after missing lots of games because of COVID.”
Delisle first began playing basketball at 7 years old on the Fort Kent Aroostook Youth Basketball League’s third and fourth grade team.
In fourth and fifth grade, he played on travel teams that won Amateur Athletic Union tournaments. He was named most valuable player in eighth grade at the Black Bear North Basketball Club All-Star Challenge.
The two-time Aroostook League All Star basketball player has averaged 25 points and double digit rebounds per game for the Warriors this season, and consistently makes plays in terms of steals and assists.
“I enjoy winning and being competitive,” Delisle said.
Delisle is also a standout soccer player, baseball player and is a member of the National Honor Society.
He is the son of Travis and Tammy Delisle and has two brothers, Caleb and Owen. A family love of sports helped Austin Delisle progress as an athlete.
Older brother Caleb Delisle scored his 1,000th point three years ago also during the Warriors’ last home game of the season.
“I wanted to reach 1,000 and Caleb set the bar,” Austin Delisle said.
Austin Delisle said he also has his teammates, coaches and grandparents to thank for his success.
Allan and Susan McBreairty, Austin Delisle’s maternal grandparents, rarely miss one of his games. The couple wears custom-made jackets with their grandsons’ names printed on them, proudly displaying their role as “Gram” and “Pup” of the Delisle boys.
Tammy Delisle said that Austin’s achievement on Saturday was a very proud moment for the entire family.
“Scoring 1,000 points is amazing but it’s not something that just happens in one game. This came from 11 years of playing basketball. Austin sacrificed many weekends away from home to play on travel teams. He’s played basketball all over Maine, in countless gyms,” his mother said.
Fort Kent coach Chad Cyr said Delisle always puts the team first.
“There was not a 1,000-point conversation between Austin and the team until he needed 24 points before Saturday’s game. I think it is very evident in Austin’s play that priority No. 1 for him is leading his team to victory,” Cyr said.
The Fort Kent Warriors moved to 16-1 on the season with the win over Central Aroostook.