The Bethlehem Christian boys basketball program has accomplished a lot in a short period of time. Now, with the help of Gabe Transue, the Panthers can boast something that few other Lehigh Valley schools can claim.
Transue, a senior forward, hit 2,000 career points as visiting Bethlehem Christian, ranked No. 12 by lehighvalleylive.com, defeated No. 6 Executive Education 70-67 in a battle of the area’s newest basketball powers on Tuesday night.
Transue is just the 10th player from the lehighvalleylive.com coverage area to reach the lofty scoring milestone.
The senior forward needed eight points to hit the mark, according to Bethlehem Christian’s statistics. He got there on a putback with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.
“It was a little nerve-racking coming in here against a good team,” Transue admitted. “Once I got it, we just started playing and we found our shots.”
Transue, who recently committed to Gettysburg College, finished the game with 30 points. He’s averaging 28.6 points per game, which leads the region this winter.
“It’s a nice number, a nice milestone to hit,” the senior said.
Transue said 2,000 points became a feasible target during his junior year, when he upped his average and scored 693 points during that season alone.
“Gabe elevates everybody, and it’s a lot of fun to watch, obviously,” Bethlehem Christian coach Matt DeJesus said. “ … I’m very happy for him. He deserves it.”
“I’m proud of Gabe,” junior guard Deion Swift added. “I’ve known him for a while now. He’s been working hard this whole time.”
Transue is one of two Panthers with eye-popping career numbers. Senior guard Myles Harris has more than 1,700 career points.
“He put in the work. Going into his freshman year, him and Myles, I challenged them even that first summer: ‘You guys are going to start as freshmen. We’re going to lean on you. We’re going to build things around you two,’ ” DeJesus said.
Despite the game being a closely contested throughout, Bethlehem Christian (19-2) never trailed on Tuesday night.
Executive (11-4) cut its deficit to 62-59 when sophomore guard Noah Bass sank a 3-pointer from the corner with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Panthers answered when Swift drilled a 3 off an assist from Transue with 3:27 left.
“Obviously, it’s their home gym and they have all their fans cheering against us,” Swift said. “Staying calm and knowing that we have control of the game helped us a lot.”
Sophomore guard Jaxon Loper got to the basket and scored to bring the Raptors within four at 65-61. Transue pushed the lead to 67-61 via a bucket in the paint with 2:30 remaining.
“He really dominated the game,” said Executive coach Ray Barbosa, a 2,000-point scorer at Allen. “He’s a pretty good player.”
After the Panthers missed a layup, Raptors junior guard Eshaan Tung registered a bucket in transition while being fouled, tightening the score to 67-63 with 1:10 on the clock.
Transue then made 1 of 2 at the foul line. Loper made it a one-possession game, 68-65, with a drive to the basket with 26.6 seconds to play. Executive senior forward Elijah Styles intercepted a Panthers pass and eventually scored a putback to make it 68-67.
Bethlehem Christian broke through Executive’s pressure, and Harris scored a layup with 9 seconds remaining, stretching the advantage to 70-67.
“I like the way they battled even when [Executive] made runs,” DeJesus said. “ … Our defense was better. I liked how we played as a team and the guys stepped up with the things we asked them to do.”
The Raptors were sent to the foul line and never got an opportunity at a game-tying 3-pointer.
“We were down three, we were down one, we just couldn’t make that extra big shot to get over the hump.” Barbosa said. “It was just one of those days.”
Barbosa, who was forced to sit for most of the game after the Raptors bench was assessed a technical foul midway through the second quarter, wasn’t pleased with the officiating.
“I don’t think we played our best,” Barbosa said. “But, I’m going to be honest, I think the officiating around here has to be better. When we’re in big games like this, we expect to have veteran referees on these games. I just don’t feel like those guys were experienced enough to be there.”
The Raptors coach wasn’t thrilled with his team’s defensive performance either.
“We didn’t defend anybody,” he said. “They scored 70 points. We’re never going to beat a team like Bethlehem Christian giving up 70 points. I expected a better effort defensively.”
Executive finished with four players scoring in double figures: Tung (17), Loper (13), Matthew Sancho (12) and Styles (10). The Raptors will try to get back in the win column Thursday when they travel to Cheltenham.
Swift followed Transue’s 30 with 27 points for the Panthers.
“It feels nice. Everyone doubts us,” Transue said. “They think, ‘Oh, you guys can only beat Christian schools. You only average that many points because you play the Christian schools.’ It’s nice to come in and show that we can hang with some good teams.”
Tuesday’s result gives Bethlehem Christian, the defending District 11 Class A champion, a boost with the postseason on the horizon.
“This is like our big test before districts to get us ready,” Swift said. “States, too – this is probably one of the teams that compares to what we’ll play in states. It’s a good test for us.”
Bethlehem Christian is trying to build on consecutive appearances in the PIAA second round.
“This is a state-level game,” DeJesus said. “The atmosphere is what we need, especially with the games we’ll have in districts and states. … Winning this game is great, but we have to use this game and grow. There are things we’ve still got to work on.”
2,000-point boys basketball scorers
from lehighvalleylive.com coverage area
2,722, Larry Miller, Catasauqua, 1960-64
2,234, Tom Kresge, Lehighton, 1983-87
2,202, Ray Barbosa, Allen, 1999-03
2,199, Jacob Lewis, Lehigh Christian, 2021-25
2,136, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Allentown Central Catholic, 2010-14
2,123, Nick Coval, Parkland, 2020-24
2,103, Glen Nanius, North Warren, 2010-14
2,077, Antoine Hubbard, Salisbury, 1990-93
2,051, Billy McCaffrey, Allentown Central Catholic, 1986-89
2,022, Gabe Transue, Bethlehem Christian, 2022-present