Submitted photo by Meredith Bargfrede: Hunter Horn poses with the game ball in West Bend on Thursday. The St. Edmond senior became the school’s career scoring champion for boys basketball.

WEST BEND — It was a move he has used countless times before, but this one was a little more special.

St. Edmond senior Hunter Horn broke the school’s career scoring record with a simple drive to the basket along the baseline here Thursday night, eclipsing the previous total set by Andrew Gibb.

Horn, who entered the lineup as a sophomore for the Gaels, now has 1,548 career points after going for 23 in a 61-21 win by fourth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond over West Bend-Mallard.

“It feels great,” Horn said. “Honestly, one of the best feelings of my life knowing all the hard work paid off. I’m just honored to be put in the situation to make it happen.

“Without my coaches, teammates and parents, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Gibb set the record in 2018, passing Nick Clark with 1,539 points. Clark had held the mark at 1,437 since 2012 after moving ahead of John Engler.

Of the Top-10 all-time leading scorers, St. Edmond (14-2 overall) head coach Adolph Kochendorfer has coached seven of them — including all of the Top-6.

“Hunter is always one of the hardest working kids out on the court,” Kochendorfer said. “He is always listening and is such a coachable kid.

“He’s really been a lot of fun to coach and it’s exciting to see him having the kind of success he is having.”

Carson Bargfrede added 15 points and Grant Galles finished with 11. Jakob Koopman scored four with 13 rebounds and eight steals. The Gaels stormed out to an early 26-8 lead and never looked back.

“We set the tone early, which was what we wanted to do,” Kochendorfer said. “Jakob played an incredible game. He doesn’t shoot the ball as much as he could, but he does all the other things that help make us successful.

There was little reaction from Horn on the record-breaking bucket despite the Gael faithful in attendance making note if it. Instead, he sprinted back on defense and continued to play.

“At the next dead-ball they announced Hunter had broken the record,” Kochendorfer said. “Both sides gave him a standing ovation and presented him with the ball he used to break it, so that was a neat thing to see.”

In his 67 games in a Gael uniform, Horn has scored over 30 points 10 times, including a career high of 38. He has gone over the 25-point mark in 30 games, and has been held under 10 just three times total in three years.

“It was great to get it over with early,” Horn said of the record-breaking basket. “I was pretty nervous leading up until it, but once I got the 15th (point), I felt like the weight was lifted off my shoulders.

“This has always been a goal of mine, but it hasn’t been my top priority. Everyone on this team has the same goal: to get back to state and make a run (at the title).”

The record also came on a significant day for the Horn family, as Hunter’s mother, Sara, celebrated her birthday.

“It was pretty special to do it on her birthday,” Horn said. “I felt kind of bad, like I was taking the spotlight off of her special day. But she thought this was a good birthday present, so she was pretty happy.”

St. Edmond now returns home for an extended run starting Friday night vs. Hampton-Dumont/CAL in North Central Conference play. The Gaels close the regular season with five straight inside the SEHS gym.

ST. EDMOND 61, WEST BEND-MALLARD 21

St. Edmond — Hunter Horn 23, Carson Bargfrede 15, Grant Galles 11, Jakob Koopman 4, Ty Mericle 2, Logan Hanson 2, Jack McElroy 2.

West Bend-Mallard — Abner Zaugg 12, Easton Montag 2, Kacen Flynn 3, Tyler Hansen 2, Carson Schneider 2.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond led 26-8, 47-12, 59-14.