Chase Smucker is an excellent all-around basketball player, but it's his career points total that has garnered most of the attention.

The 6-foot senior guard became Lampeter-Strasburg boys' basketball's all-time leading scorer during a win at Octorara Feb. 4.

Chase surpassed Bryan Boyd's total of 1,326 points on a transition basket, using a crossover dribble at halfcourt and driving for a left-handed layup.

Chase, who needed 10 points entering the game and finished with 16, wasn't keeping track of his total during the important league game, but his family was. Chase's parents, Marlin and Janet, were in attendance along with two brothers, Jordan and Mitch, who both came in from Ohio. Chase's brother Austin, an assistant coach for the Pioneers, was on the bench.

"My whole family knew it happened," Chase said. "But it was a big game, and I was kind of in the moment. I didn't even know it happened. I was just focused on the moment and wasn't keeping track of my point total. It's cool. It's really cool. It was cool seeing all my family's support and seeing how excited they got."

Chase is the eighth L-S boys player to reach the 1,000-point milestone, joining Boyd; Zac Shaeffer, 1,239 points; Randy Good, 1,220; Denny Diehm, 1,142; Ryan Smith, 1,080; Joel Eshleman, 1,009; and Seth Beers, 1,002.

In the district tournament, Chase poured in 50 points in a first-round win over Northern York and added 31 in a second-round loss to West York to bring his total to 1,440. The opening-round win assured the Pioneers a place in the PIAA Tournament, which will start Friday, March 7.

Chase is a threat to score from beyond the arc, at the charity stripe, or on a drive to the rim as his record-setting basket demonstrated. He knocked down 60 three-pointers during the regular season and made more than 100 free throws.

"I'm definitely a three-level scorer," Chase said. "I can get to the basket whenever I need to. I can hit pull-up jumpers, handle the ball. I think I can do a little bit of everything on offense. Sometimes I think my defense goes unnoticed. I like to take pride in being a smart player. I watch a lot of basketball. I've played for a long time. I have family that's played basketball, so I think that's a big part."

His role changes during the summer when he plays for the York Ballers AAU team. "I am more of a glue guy," Chase said. "A Swiss Army Knife."

He has modeled his game after Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving. "Kyrie Irving is my favorite player of all time," Chase said. "I've always watched his highlights. I like the way he plays with his own pace and his change of speeds, especially as a smaller guard. In high school it doesn't matter as much, but as I get into college it will definitely matter. I'll be one of the smaller guys on the court."

Chase is planning to continue his education and basketball career at Bloomsburg University in the fall.

"That was always my dream to play in the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)," Chase said. "It's one of the better (Division II) conferences in the country, and I like the physicality and speed they play with."

He is considering a major in sports management. "I want to be involved with sports and become a coach so I can stay around basketball," Chase said. "I think I'm a good leader, so that would play into the coaching aspect."

His family has always been his biggest influence. "My parents kind of went with the flow with us kids," said Chase. "They weren't athletes growing up. They have learned a lot watching me and my siblings. My dad has always preached leadership to me and playing through the ups and downs when there is adversity. He preached being a leader to everybody and having a voice and showing your personality out on the court."

Although 7 years old at the time, Chase has fond memories of watching Austin play for the Pioneers. "I think that's when I fell in love with the game," Chase said. Mitch previously worked on the coaching staffs at Dartmouth College and University of Delaware.

Chase scored 104 points in his rookie season, as the Pioneers went 28-1 and captured the district championship. "Scoring 1,000 was always my goal, and I knew that was possible," he said. "The record was always in the back of my mind. I was always the type to try to win games, especially after how much we won during my freshman year. I always just wanted to win, but I knew if (the school record) came it would just be a bonus."

Chase's record-setting feat is a source of pride for the program. "Chase is someone we can point to and say, 'If you work hard, here's what can happen to you,'" Lampeter-Strasburg head coach Ed Berryman said. "And he's worked extremely hard. He works on his game every day. That's a great message to be able to share with the kids in the program, from fourth grade up."

The coach also praised Chase's unselfishness. "We're proud of him," Berryman said. "Many times, he could take shots that he doesn't take. He's still all about the team. That's what is really special about him."