An exhausted Miles Bowman was walking off the court at Southwest Guilford on Monday night when he heard the public-address announcer say that he had scored 51 points.
Bowman, a senior who had just led Parkland to a 111-103 overtime win, said he was shocked.
"I knew I was scoring a lot when they started putting a man on me full-court in the fourth quarter and started double-teaming me so I couldn't touch the ball," Bowman said. "But it didn't stop me because I wanted it more."
There is some discrepancy on just how many points Bowman scored. Southwest's home scorebook, the official scorebook, has 51; Parkland's book has 56.
But the way Coach Carlos Mumford of Parkland looks at it, it's a school record for a single game — the second time Bowman has accomplished that this season. His 48-point effort against Glenn earlier this season also set the school record.
"Thirty-six minutes, 56 points," Mumford said. "You can't even get that in the NBA. I am amazed at some of the stuff he does. He is as smooth as they come. I have seen a lot of guys come through here, but none of them except Chris Paul was as efficient as (Bowman) is."
The 6-6 Bowman did a little of everything in helping hand Southwest its only loss in Piedmont Triad 4-A play this season. He hit two 3-pointers, made 18 of 22 free throws and scored 11 of his team's 18 points in overtime.
Bowman, averaging 26.1 points and 14 rebounds, has committed to Winston-Salem State. But that commitment isn't keeping Division I coaches from noticing his performances.
Mumford said he received a call from Pete Strickland, an assistant coach at N.C. State, on Tuesday and a call from an assistant coach at High Point on Wednesday.
"It's that kid's dream to play Division I," said Mumford, who played at WSSU. "I told him if he keeps playing as well as he has been, there will be Division I schools coming around. I am shocked that Wake Forest and all these other guys … they might not have a scholarship available, but he can flat out play.
"Not to say he isn't going to WSSU, but when you get a call from an ACC school … I guess I wouldn't be shocked."
Bowman said he was keeping his eyes open.
"I am trying to look around see what's out there," he said. "It was just a verbal commitment."
Coach Guy Shavers of Southwest Guilford, sick with the flu, watched Monday's game and Bowman's performance from a distance, not from his usual spot on the bench because he didn't want to infect his players.
He said he hoped that his team — which has already clinched the PTC regular-season title — would be better prepared for Bowman when the teams have a rematch tonight at Parkland in the regular-season finale.
"His strength is that he goes about his business," Shavers said of Bowman. "He doesn't play with the ball much. He knows how to take a bump, and he adds a little extra to it and gets to the line. I have seen him play three or four times this year.
"And he is like a heat pump — he is just efficient. He doesn't do a lot of extra stuff. You give him the ball and 'Bam,' he puts it in. He is very skilled, goes left and right and doesn't mind posting up.
"I am happy for the kid, but I am not planning on him doing it again."
rlinker@wsjournal.com
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