-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Tray Croft of Iowa Central shoots around Iowa Western on Saturday inside Hodge Fieldhouse

For 50 years, Al Nuness’ name sat atop the Iowa Central basketball history books.

Nuness scored 770 points during the 1966-67 season, and countless standout players since have put on the Triton uniform in an attempt to break that mark.

All, though, failed until this past season when freshman sensation Tray Croft recorded 772 points to reset the school record.

Croft, from Annison, Ala., helped usher in a wave of new players for legendary head coach Dennis Pilcher this past winter. Iowa Central went 11-21, bowing out in the regional tournament at the hands of Iowa Lakes earlier this week.

“Becoming the single-season scoring leader meant a lot to me,” Croft said. “I didn’t know that I was even close to breaking it until after the last game when coach told me.

“It feels good to have a record set (at Iowa Central) with my name on it.”

Croft played in all 32 games this season, recording many nights of at least 35 minutes on the floor. His per game average of 24.1 points ranks fifth nationally, while his point total is second-best in the country at the moment.

“I feel I was able to break it because I came out every game and gave all I had,” he said. “I left everything on the court.”

Croft reached the 20-point mark 25 times this season and eclipsed 30 points eight times. He had a career-high 36 in a win over Ellsworth where he was 9 of 13 from the field, including 6-for-8 from the three-point line, and 12 of 12 from the charity stripe.

Despite all the success he found with the Tritons, Croft admits there was a learning curve he had to go through.

“The biggest change was becoming a point guard,” he said. “In high school, I played (shooting) guard, but I had the ball (in my hands) a lot.

“I had to learn to get my team more involved and how to control the game.”

On the season, Croft shot 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. He was also an 80 percent free throw shooter, making 192 of 239. His 147 assists placed him 30th in the country.

“I feel like I need to work on my shot and finishing a little better,” said Croft, who plans to return for his sophomore season in the fall. “I need to work on my body to try and get stronger, and also work on my ball handling a little more.”

Eight times this past winter Croft made double digit free throws, while he had two games of six made triples. He also had a 17-for-21 performance at the line vs. Southeastern.

With all the individual success and future accolades coming his way, it was what happened off the court and a complete team performance that left the biggest marks on Croft from this past season.

“What I will remember most is how hard my coaches pushed me to become a better player and better person,” he said. “And how we beat the No. 8 (Kirkwood) team in the nation.”