Incredible Video of Hopatcong Girl Unknowingly Scoring 1,000th Career Point

Lexi Breheny didn't know why the crowd exploded when she hit the first free throw. The Hopatcong resident was even more confused when she sank the second and her teammates stormed the court.

Then Breheny looked into the stands and read the signs.

Breheny scored her 1,000th career point for Pope John in a 48-39 loss to River Dell at home Thursday night. The junior guard became the fifth Lion to reach the mark, the first since 2006.

The difference between Breheny and the others? They probably knew they were mere points from the milestone.

Breheny's father, Paul, has kept track of her points throughout her career and realized before the season she had a shot at 1,000. But he didn't want to put pressure on his daughter. So he never told her.

Paul Breheny said he had a hard time keeping the secret.

"I was biting my tongue all day," he said. "I told her to shoot the heck out of the ball (Thursday) night."

Said Lexi Breheny, "Now I know why he was saying that."

Breheny said she was surprised by her father's advice. She had been mired in a weeklong slump.

But the 17-year-old shot "the heck out of the ball" anyway, nailing 4 of 5 attempts for 10 first-quarter points. And after scoring just a combined five points between the second and third quarters, Breheny, who began the night needing 19 to touch the plateau, sank a three-pointer with three minutes left in the fourth to bring her within two.

Then she drove baseline, drew a foul and went to the line for a 1-and-1 with 1:14 remaining.

Breheny said the larger-than-usual crowd had reacted with passion to each of her shots Thursday, but she chalked it up to Senior Night.

Then she hit both free throws and realized the ruckus was for her.

"It felt amazing," Breheny said. "Before the game, I had no idea. For the past few weeks, people were asking me how close I was. I had no idea. My parents didn't tell me and I kind of wanted it that way."

Paul Breheny and his wife, Brenda, each said they can relax now that the secret's out.

"My heart was beating," Paul Breheny said when asked how he felt seeing his daughter at the line. "That's for sure."