Redirection STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Port Aransas High School Marlins player Jake Roberts saves the ball from going out of bounds during a game against Marion on Dec. 20. Tyler Pate says his ranking among basketball scorers in Texas Class 1A schools is surprising. But coach Joe Kocurek says when one player is called on to score 40 points in a game, he’ll be up in the rankings.

Pate, a 6-2 junior, is ranked the second- highest scorer among 1A players in Texas, with 352 total points on the year as of Friday, Dec. 23. He is averaging 27.1 points per game, with other statistics of 4.0 assists per game, 1.1 blocks, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

As well as being the second highest 1A scorer, Pate is ranked 11th statewide in all classes.

“Tyler has the potential to become a star, there’s no doubt about that,” Kocurek said of Pate earlier in the year.

“I’ve had a good season, but I didn’t expect to be ranked number two,” Pate said in a telephone interview on Dec. 23. He said he had practiced hard over the summer and worked on his shooting skills.

“I hope we close out the season on a good note, and make a run to state,” he said.

The Marlins were due to face first Rockport and then Alamo Heights in a tournament in Sinton on Tuesday, Dec. 27.