It has been a season unlike any other for the Aberdeen Christian boys’ basketball team.

In addition to winning another Lake Region Conference title and qualifying for a fourth consecutive State B tournament, the Knights spent the majority of the season as the top-rated team in the state. But it’s what happened in the middle of it all that is truly unique.

The Knights had three players reach the 1,000-point mark this season. The senior trio of Ethan Russell, Malek Wieker, and Jackson Isakson each experienced the milestone accomplishment, all within about a week of each other.

“It’s rare company for sure,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach of the likelihood of having three 1,000-point scorers on the same squad. “All three of them couldn’t be more deserving guys. They all put in the time and the effort.”

While completely different in their roles, each of the players are similar in the fact that they feature versatile skill sets. Russell is a power forward who is comfortable on the perimeter and can drive to the basket. Wieker is a point-guard with shooting guard accuracy from three-point range. Isakson is a small forward who is not afraid to mix it up inside and also a defensive specialist.

All three can go off at a moment’s notice, causing major headaches for opposing coaches.

“If you listen to other coach’s interviews, they’re always talking about that,” Isakson said. “It’s hard to match up with us defensively.”

Isakson has been with the squad from day one. He saw varsity minutes as a seventh-grader and this weekend will finish his career by playing in a whopping 142 varsity games.

Wieker joined the squad from Aberdeen public school and Russell transferred after one season at Great Plains Lutheran. However, there is a chemistry with the trio that started long before their time at Aberdeen Christian.

“We’ve all been playing together since seventh grade,” Russell said.

They were all part of summer league teams coached by Rohrbach, so it was a natural transition when the pieces all came together.

“It’s really a brotherhood outside of basketball, too,” Russell said, “so that definitely helps, just a lot of chemistry all around.”

At the center of it all is a desire for the team to succeed, regardless of the individual cost. That is resonating even more as the Knights prepare for this week’s State B tournament at Wachs Arena.

“You don’t really see a lot of selfishness, because we don’t really care about who has the points at the end of the night,” Wieker said. “It’s just kind of win and move on and that’s what we’re kind of hoping in these last three games, is that we don’t really care who scores the ball, if we can survive and advance, that’s all we care about.”

Blending three proven scorers into one cohesive unit can be a challenge, but each player understands his role. Rohrbach said Isakson helped to set the tone when joined by his ‘new’ teammates.

“Honestly, you could make a case that Jackson could have been there (at 1,000 points) within the last couple of years, but he kind of took a back role to Ethan and Malek as kind of the primary scorers of the team,” Rohrbach said. “It’s just been really cool to see them gel these last couple of years.”

While still a potent offensive threat, Isakson set his focus on preventing points as much as scoring them.

“Something that helped with that is I took pride in defense,” Isakson said, “and just wanted to be a defensive stopper.”

Isakson said each of the team’s leading scorers do not feel the need to put up big numbers in order for the team to be successful.

“Playing for each other,” Isakson said of mindset, “and knowing that if it’s not your night to score, then you can make plays elsewhere.”

Of course, scoring has not been much of an issue for this senior trio. Each is capable of putting the ball in the basket from anywhere on the floor.

“I call them all three-level scorers,” Rohrbach said, “being able to get to the rim, whether that’s on a post touch or just attacking off the dribble, and then all three of them obviously capable 3-point shooters, and able to score from midrange.”

Russell is averaging 15.8 points per game, Wieker 15.3 and Isakson 11.3.

The seniors might have been able produce bigger numbers on a team where they were the primary option, but each is content to put team success ahead of individual accolades.

“I think that’s to be said across the board of all of our players that we have here. Everyone seems to play together really well,” Russell said. “They definitely could be shooting more or scoring more points other places, but everyone really accepts their role here and really plays for the bigger purpose.”

Not that they need it, but they’re reminded of that bigger purpose before stepping on the floor each night.

“Before each game we tell each other play for one another and not for ourselves,” Wieker said, “for the name on the front of our jerseys.”

Each of the members of the 1,000-point club is grateful for their milestone achievement, but there is something that would bring them much greater satisfaction: winning a State B championship this weekend.

“It’s just a milestone along the way,” Russell said of the scoring mark. “It’s definitely nice to see the fruits of your labors, but the big thing for me and Malek and Jackson is the state tournament and state championship, so just trying to build for that.”

That quest begins at 6 tonight against Ethan in the opening round.