Luke Branson Reaches 1,000 Career Points at Virginia City

Virginia City High School senior Luke Branson reached a major milestone Tuesday Jan. 23, 2026, scoring his 1,000th career point during the game and earning a brief stoppage of play to recognize the achievement.

Branson said the moment caught him off guard, even though he knew he was closing in on the mark.

“When I realized I reached 1,000 points, I was pretty surprised,” Branson said. “Me and my coach had talked about it a couple weeks before, so I knew I was close, but I had no idea it would happen that game.”

After hitting the milestone basket, play stopped while Branson was congratulated and presented with the game ball, a moment he said was especially meaningful.

“That had never happened before at VC, as far as I know,” he said. “It was a very special moment and it meant so much to me.”

Branson, who has played varsity basketball at Virginia City all four years, said the work behind the milestone began well before high school. He started playing in eighth grade and spent countless hours during the offseason training on the outdoor court in Lockwood with his mentor, Jim.

“We would often work out in the morning and at night, five to six times a week,” Branson said. “I credit all my success to those times.”

Despite the individual milestone, Branson emphasized a team-first mindset.

“The game is so much bigger than me,” he said. “My personal accomplishments mean nothing if we aren’t able to put something in the trophy case at the end of the season.”

Editor's Note: Read Luke's article for details about the Jan. 23 and Jan. 24 VCHS basketball games: www.thecomstockchronicle.com/muckers-knock-off-undefeated-bulldogs/