Bird’s name in national record book Perfect foul shot night noted

LEE – After Tom Bird went 24-for-24 at the free-throw line during Lee Academy’s 61-46 victory at Katahdin of Stacyville on Jan. 16, there was the slightest tinge of disappointment.

“I actually thought I made more,” said the junior forward, “but when they told me it was 24, I was happy with that.”

He should be – the performance represents the third-best performance of its kind in high school boys basketball history, according to John Gillis, assistant director for the National Federation of State High School Associations and editor of the National High School Sports Record Book.

Gillis confirmed via e-mail Thursday that Bird’s performance would be listed in the 2007 edition of the National High School Sports Record Book in the category of most free throws made in a game without a miss.

The 2007 record book will be published early next year.

“There are millions of people who have played the game,” said Bird, the 17-year-old son of Tom and Lorrie Bird of Lee. “Some of the best players of all time aren’t in the record book, so I definitely feel good knowing I’m going to be in it.”

Bird’s performance – the best nationwide in the last 24 years – trails only the 31-of-31 made by Randy Patti of Rosedale High School in Kansas City, Kan., on March 3, 1971, and the 26-of-26 made by Gary Bossert of Kenmore West Senior High School in Buffalo, N.Y., on March 9, 1982.

The listing will put Bird in rare company relative to Maine-based accomplishments in the NFHS book.

The only Maine basketball listings in the 2006 edition involve the Valley of Bingham Class D schoolboy dynasty of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Valley is listed among the nation’s leaders in consecutive state titles (6), consecutive victories (101) and consecutive undefeated seasons (4).

A 78 percent free-throw shooter this season, Bird thought his perfect night at the line might be a state record, but no such official records are maintained.

He accessed the NFHS Web site to check out how his 24-for-24 stood against the nation’s best, and found no category for made free throws in a game without a miss, just overall consecutive free throws made and most free throws made in a game.

“I was a little surprised, because I looked at the NCAA and NBA record books and they both had it for a category,” Bird said.

At the urging of his aunt, Julie Bullock, Bird filled out an All-Sports National High School Federation Application, which provided for a description of the potential record and information about the particular game and the opposing school.

The application was signed by Bird, Lee Academy headmaster Bruce Lindberg and the respective state high school association, in this case the Maine Principals’ Association. Then it was sent off to the NFHS, along with newspaper accounts and a DVD of the game for verification purposes.

Once Bird’s accomplishment was verified, the NFHS listings for consecutive free throws made and most free throws made in a game were pursued and ultimately it was determined that Bird’s performance stood as the third-best within a single game without a miss.

Gillis then informed Bird that his performance was accepted for inclusion in the record book and would be listed under the new category in the 2007 edition.

Bird averaged 20 points per game this winter for Lee, which finished 12-8 and reached the Eastern D semifinals. Nearly a third of his points came from the free-throw line.

“Tom is an inside player for us but he’s not that big [6-foot-1],” said Lee coach Randy Harris. “But he knows how to work around the basket, and he’s smart enough to draw fouls and get to the line.”

That certainly was the case as Lee’s game at then-undefeated Katahdin evolved, and as it became apparent that Bird was hot at the line, his teammates kept getting him the ball.

“I knew the game was being called tight, so I was trying to draw fouls,” said Bird, who finished the night with 35 points.

“Once I made eight or 10 in a row, at timeouts the guys on the bench would ask me how many I’d made. I wasn’t sure, I just had a big smile on my face.”