Hopatcong Boys Basketball Star Breaks Father's Career Scoring Record (Video and 37 Photos!)

The ball clanked off the rim and hung in the air.

Then it fell through the hoop, bringing Dennis Tobin's 33-year-old Hopatcong career scoring record down with it. The shooter? His son.

Matt Tobin scored 39 points in Tuesday's 74-34 win over Wallkill Valley at home, pushing him well past his father's all-time record of 2,091. The Hopatcong senior guard also pulled behind Sparta's Chris Jent, a former NBA player who owns Sussex County's career scoring record at 2,287.

Matt Tobin entered the night 18 points shy of his father and scored the record-breaking bucket on running jumper from the right elbow with 7:15 remaining in the second quarter. He had 18 first-quarter points, tying the mark with a pair of free throws with two minutes left.

Matt Tobin said he was relieved to leave his father's mark behind.

"I don't really like talking about it," he said. "People were coming up to me, asking me how many points I needed. I don't keep track."

Action stopped the moment Tobin snapped the record. His feat was announced over the sound system to a raucous crowd. He took a few moments to high-five teammates before jogging to the bleachers to hug his father and other family members.

"Today I'm happy to be No. 2," Dennis Tobin said. "I'm really proud and excited for Matt. He's really worked very hard since he was 4 or 5 years old at the game of basketball."

Matt Tobin, who also , credited his family for his success.

"[My dad] and my brother made me the player I am," he said. "Can't really brag too much. I learned everything from my dad and my brother."

Head coach Jim Tobin, Matt's uncle and Dennis' brother, said he tried preparing his star scorer for with a pre-game talk. This time?

"I said nothing to him," Jim Tobin said. "Zero."

That might have been key. Matt Tobin scored Hopatcong's first 14 points as it clinched its second straight Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division crown. He had 26 at end of the first half. Matt Tobin left the game midway through the fourth with a slight limp and spent the rest of the game wearing a blue boot on his left foot.

Jon Parker was the first Chiefs player not named Tobin to score Tuesday when he nailed layup midway through the first quarter, giving Hopatcong a 16-3 lead. Dan Sullivan and Jake Smith each scored eight points in the blowout.

Keith Yearwood led the Rangers with 15 points.

Jim Tobin said the win could springboard Hopatcong into postseason form.

"I was disappointed with us for a couple of games during the last few weeks where we don't think the focus is there," he said. "And I told them tonight: playoff game, undefeated, they're coming in here with a purpose to beat you. You've got to come ready to play. I was real excited with how our team came out."

Matt Tobin agreed.

"[The win was] definitely big," he said. "Wallkill's a great team, and they came out here with a lot of energy, knowing that if we lost this game we'd have to go to Newton, which is a tough place to play at, and win for the (co-championship)."

But he doesn't have worry about that now, nor must he worry about chasing his father's scoring record.

Hopatcong 74, Wallkill Valley 34

Wallkill Valley    8    7    8    11    —34
Hopatcong        23    12    16    23    —74

Wallkill Valley: Kyle Cowans 2, Keith Yearwood 15, Charlie Buvis 3, Cody Hilbert 5, Mike Rillo 3, Bobby Russel 2, AJ Castillucci 1, Jason Decker 3.

Hopatcong: Matt Tobin 39, Hunter Guard 4, Jon Parker 4, Joey LoBue 2, Vinny Marinoni 2, Dan Sullivan 8, Jake Smith 8, Ryan Clarke 3, Nick Krowl 2.

Team records: Hopatcong 14-6, Wallkill Valley 11-8.

Note: Check out MSG Varsity's report on Matt Tobin's record-breaking game on Wednesday at 6 p.m.