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03/08/2017 11:00 PMCory Muckle knew that he needed to add a new dimension to his offensive game as a member of the Westbrook boys’ basketball team this winter. Cory’s dedication led to him netting a monumental personal achievement, after which he helped the Knights record their biggest win in program history.
Cory, a senior captain guard, began his basketball career in middle school and committed to it year-round right from the jump. When Westbrook faced Amistad last month, Cory joined teammate Liam Bell in an elite club by scoring the 1,000th point of his high school career. Then just last week, Cory and company beat East Hampton to give the Knights their first Shoreline Conference title in program history. For the season, Cory is averaging 21.8 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
“Reaching 1,000 points is humbling. In 8th grade, I would have never thought it would happen,” says Cory. “As a junior, I realized I was getting close and the whole night was the best experience of my life that I will cherish for a long time.”
Cory needed to score 20 points to reach 1,000 when Westbrook faced Amistad on Feb. 1. He wound up hitting that mark and then some by pouring home 30 points in the Knights’ 63-54 victory.
“That night, we had a doubleheader with the girls’ game before us and I was 20 points away and wanted to get it that night. I had 15 in the first half and, towards the end of the game, I scored on a floater that sealed it,” Cory says. “Hearing everyone cheering me was amazing.”
Cory also put his stamp on Westbrook’s win versus East Hampton in the Shoreline Conference final. He scored 18 points, while also playing stout defense that led to some pivotal turnovers in the 63-49 victory.
“To win the Shoreline championship with these guys I’ve been playing with for so long is amazing. Words can’t describe the feeling. It was just surreal,” he says. “I told my teammates before the start of the season, ‘Mark my words. We are going to be Shoreline champs.’ Even being down at halftime in the final, I knew we were going to take it. It was only right.”
Last year, Cory’s trademark on the court was firing away from beyond the arc. While he did see a great deal of success with the three-ball, Cory knew that he had to work on other aspects of his game to elevate himself to another level.
“To be a good scorer, you need to have different aspects of the game down. You can’t be just a shooter. Shooting threes was my cup of tea my junior year and then I realized I had to learn how to do it all,” says Cory. “I started working on my ball-handling and other things this past offseason. You have to be able to break people down and create shots.”
Knights’ Head Coach Jeff Beeman duly notes the development in Cory’s game with a more aggressive approach with the rock and drive down the lane.
“Cory is a great three-point shooter who has incorporated the ability to drive to the hoop this year,” says Beeman. “He plays with fire and passion and will improve some coach’s roster next year. He is another player we will be hard-pressed to replace next year.”
Cory says that taking flight to the hoop makes it a guessing game for defenders because they don’t know whether he’ll strike from or down low or downtown.
“I have long arms and a quick first step, but I never utilized it, but then I tried it out going to the hole last summer,” Cory says. “It opens up the game so much because the defenders have to ease up a bit and maybe not always expect a shot, or else you can ease by them and go in.”
Whether he’s on the court or in class, Cory is driven by his competitive nature and is constantly challenging himself to reach the top. Cory’s teammates echo that same desire to succeed and, now that the Knights have one postseason trophy in their clutches, they’re aiming to do something special in the next phase of the playoffs.
“I’ve always been really hard on myself, whether in school or sports. I try to win and do everything I can to help my team. If my shot’s not there, then I go all out on defense. I try to get the best out of myself and make my teammates better,” says Cory. “We just need to play our own brand of basketball at our own pace in states. When we rush things, things break down. Westbrook basketball had never made it past the Shoreline Conference semifinals and the seniors want to leave as the best team in the program because we were 4-16 as sophomores. In states, we have to keep our poise. I’m confident in everyone, and we have a good chance to go far.”