Fermi's Pasini Surpasses 1,000 Point Plateau

With Enrico Fermi High School consolidating with Enfield High School following this school year, it is the last chance for Falcon athletes to set school records and accomplish milestones.

For just the third (and final) time in school history, a Fermi basketball player has surpassed the 1,000 point mark, as senior Josh Pasini reached that plateau Friday night at Rockville.

Pasini joins Brian Tallarita (1999) as the only Falcon boys to reach 1,000 career points. Leehna Ware (2009) is the lone Fermi girl to achieve the mark.

He entered the contest with 995 points, and as the top scorer in the CCC East this season, it seemed all but certain he would pass the historic early in the game.

The host Rams had other ideas, however, aggressively double-teaming Pasini throughout the first half and pressuring him into taking errant shots. He scored just a pair of free throws in the opening half, leaving him with 997 points.

“I knew they were going to come out strong, and by the second half I was mad,” he said.

Fermi head coach Bob Evans said, “The last time we played them, he had 27, and with everyone knowing he was going for a thousand, I think it put a little mental pressure on him, as well as the physical pressure of the other team.”

After intermission, Pasini sank one of two free throws in the opening 20 seconds, pulling him within two of the mark. Finally, he eclipsed it with his specialty: a three-point shot from the top of the key with 5:50 to play in the third quarter.

“Everyone at school had been telling me to hit a three to get it,” he said.

Aware of the milestone, the officials immediately stopped the game while Pasini was mobbed by his jubilant teammates, then he was congratulated by Rockville coach Nate Martins and all of the Ram players. He was presented a banner commemorating the feat before play resumed.

After the pressure of the approaching record was lifted, Pasini settled into his standard groove, finishing with 20 points.

Unfortunately for Pasini and his teammates, the Falcons remained winless this season, dropping a 73-56 decision. Colin O’Connell led the Falcons with 21 points.

Photo credits: Tim Jensen