2,014 Points Honored 22 Years Later

The Willow Springs R-IV School District honored Robert James, the All-Time Career Scoring Leader in the history of Willow Springs Bear Basketball on February 18. Now the Athletic Director of the school district, James was honored 22 years after the fact for his record of 2,014 points. 

Former Head Coach Brent Colley presented the award.

"I was Robert's coach and at the time we didn't make it a habit of giving plaques to 1,000-point scorers," Coach Colley told Howell County News. After watching three Willow basketball players receive plaques this year, we decided we should at least honor the all-time leader." 

"During Robert's high school career, he was known as an outstanding shooter with incredible range," Colley said in his presentation.

"He led the Bears to a District Championship in 2000 and was named All-State First Team. When the game was on the line, he always wanted the ball and was confident he would score. That confidence was evident one game during a time-out when I actually called a play in which someone else was supposed to shoot the ball instead of Robert. As the team was breaking the huddle, Robert leaned over to point guard Butch Jones and whispered, 'That was just a suggestion!'"

James' name is in several categories in the record books for the Willow Springs Bears. He was a starter in all 102 games of his high school career.  He registered the most career double-figure games at 93. He averaged 20 points per game for all four years.  

"And he would be mad if we didn't mention that he has the second most steals of all time," quipped Coach Colley.

James played for Willow Springs from 1996 until his graduation in 2000. After graduation, he played Division 1 Basketball at the University of Tennessee-Martin and subsequently finished his collegiate career at College of the Ozarks.