After passing 1,000-career points, Colt Dominic Scharer sets sights on 3rd district title
HILLSDALE — The Hillsdale Academy varsity boys basketball team is currently on a collision course with another SCAA East division title. The Colts and coach Zach Miller are currently undefeated in conference play. The team hasn't lost the division title in the previous four years. This year, they are looking for their fifth conference division title and their third district title in a row.
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Helping lead the way is a senior group including Benny Cote, Jay Jenkins, Ridley Fast and Dominic Scharer. Dominic Scharer (center) is one of the top scorers and playmakers for the Colts who has continuously showed up in the double-double stat marks each week since his sophomore year.
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During week 10 of the high school winter sports season, Dominic Scharer passed 1,000 career points on homecoming night in front of his family and the rest of the Hillsdale Academy community. It has been a goal on the mind of the senior since the season started, and he had plenty of people to thank for helping him get to the milestone marker.
"First off, thanks to all of the coaching staff, from J.V., middle school and all the way up to varsity with coach Miller and coach Wells," Scharer said. "And thanks a lot to my parents, especially my dad. He's been a coach even as I've gone through programs with other coaches. He's helped me every step of the way, coaching me on the weekends and telling me what I need to improve on after every game. Then, most of all probably, thanks to my past and current teammates. You don't get 1,000 without all of those assists."
Hillsdale Academy coach Zach Miller says that there's not a harder worker on the team, and since day one of the season, he could tell how special this season was going to be for the three-year starter.
"He certainly leads by his example," coach Miller said. "There's not a harder worker on the team than Dominic. I remember sitting first day of practice and the first days of competitive drills and noticing the 0-60 intensity. Right from the get-go, you could tell he was hungry, he wanted to improve, he wanted the team to be the best it can be and that was fun to see.
"I knew this year would be special, but that's been the same thing for the last three years. He makes our team better because, constantly, every night he gets triple teamed, quadruple teamed and he still finds ways to be an offensive threat and get other guys the ball, too. That's probably the best testament I can say to him. He makes the other guys around him better. He leads the team in scoring but it's not just that, it's the strong rebounding and it's just the good decision making."
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One of the biggest factors for the way the Colts have been able to dominate on defense and offense this year is the decision making by Scharer. The team had seven straight double-digit victories before their loss to No. 1 LCS this week. During the winning streak, only two teams scored 40 points.
"That's one thing I think Dominic's done an incredible job over the three years," Miller said. "He's become a really good decision maker at a higher speed. As the game picks up, and he's able to play at a higher speed, he's making good decisions at that speed and that's a hard thing to do. I don't think I took him out for like a five or six game stretch. It's just a mentality of next-play, next-play (for him)."
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The senior has continued to grow in the leadership role as he became more comfortable with the role he plays and his playmaking abilities. That's one of the biggest areas that coach Miller has been impressed to see Dominic continue to work on.
"He's a quiet warrior but I have seen him more vocal this year than any year in the past. I can see that he wants it not just for himself but for his teammates. That selflessness is probably one of the coolest things to see. His ability to bring the best out of guys through his play, I don't think I would have said that two years ago. Two years ago, he was still growing into his body, even though he was strong and physical. But now, he is using his physical talents to make others better around him. That's pretty cool to see."
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With three games left on the schedule, all against teams they have beaten this season, it is likely the Colts will wrap up their fifth straight division title. For Scharer, with the milestone career goal checked off his list (and a potential fifth straight league title), he's focused on taking the team as far as he can in the postseason.
"Going into the postseason, I'm looking forward to district, and regionals if we are lucky to get there, and maybe even past that," said Scharer. "It's going to be all shooting and execution. I'll do my part and I know my teammates will step up. If we work together as a team and play together, I think we can go far."
What has made this season more special for Dominic and his family has been the two brothers playing on the same field and court together. Last year, sophomore and younger brother Dawson Scharer, was pulled up to varsity. But this was the first full season of basketball they have played together on varsity. The two brothers also helped the Colts win a district title on the soccer field in the fall of 2023.
For Dominic, he's excited to see where this journey will end for him and where Dawson's will go over the next two years.
"It's been great. He's got a great future. Maybe we will see him hit 1,000."
At the conclusion of the winter sports season, Scharer will compete with the Colts in track and field. Scharer broke the school record for discuss throw last season and earned all-state honors. Scharer will continue his track and field career, like his older brother Damion at Spring Arbor, at the collegiate level at Hillsdale College.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: After passing 1,000-career points, Colt Dominic Scharer sets sights on 3rd district title
