Seal surpasses 1,000

It only took three minutes and two seconds, but it was four years in the making.

Orange County High School senior Tyler Seal scored his 1,000^th point Friday night in front of the Hornet fans in a 63-60 loss to Riverbend.

Heading into the game, Seal, a four-year varsity starter, was just five points shy of the 1,000-point threshold. After a layup got him within three, his third shot, a 3-pointer from the top of the key gave him 1,000 on the dot. Officials stopped the clock and OCHS Activities Director Marc Cole presented Seal with a game ball at half court.

Seal said he thought, “finally, after four years of hard work!” as he stood at midcourt for the brief presentation.

Orange trailed at the end of the first quarter, despite Seal’s eight early points. With nine more points in the second from Seal, six from Jabari Bryant and five from Rahiem Cooper, the Hornets took a 34-27 lead. Seal added four more points in the third quarter as Orange led 50-44. He added six more in the fourth quarter to finish with a game-high 27, but the Hornets still lost 63-60.

Seal, who averages 13.8 points per game as a senior, started as a freshman and been a consistent scorer for the Hornets for four years.

“He made his presence known in 9^th grade as a starter,” Orange head coach Keyode Rogers said. “I am happy with him as a player and young man, and I am happy that he reached this.  He has become a good player and leader and a person that others can look up to both on and off the court.”

The 5-foot 9-inch Seal has averaged 15.3 points per game this season to lead the Hornets.

“It doesn’t matter how big you are; it matters what you have inside,” said Seal.

Only six Hornets have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, according to Cole. Seal joins Rodney Sedwick, Isaiah Walker, Paul Carter, Pierre Poindexter, Bradley Starks and Quintin Hunter.

“He deserves this,” Rogers added. “He goes after the ball. Nothing really slows him down. He has been a great asset.”

Seal is a three-sport athlete at OCHS and was one of the first Hornets to be named first-team all-district in Orange’s new AAA Commonwealth District, when he was honored for his football play this fall. During his high school tenure, he’s been named all-district (previously in the AA Jefferson District) in all three sports.

With 1022 career points to date, and three more games left to play, Seal said his individual goal is, “just help my team.”

Currently, Seal hopes to play collegiately next year and remains undecided which sport he’ll pursue at the next level.