It was a shot Keegan Hyland has made dozens of times in games during his three years on the South Portland high basketball team; one he’s drawn nothing but net on thousands of times while shooting by himself.

But the straightaway pull-up jumper Hyland made with 5:39 left in the second quarter of the Red Riots’ 56-51 win over Portland on Friday at the Expo was one he’ll remember. It gave Hyland his 1,000th (and 1,001st) career point.

He joined Chris Markwood, South Portland class of 2000, as the only players in Red Riots’ boys hoops history to reach four digits in points. Markwood, who like Hyland contributed as a varsity player from his freshman year, finished high school with 1,083 career points.

Markwood played for the University of Notre Dame for two seasons before transferring to the University of Maine to finish his college playing career. He’s now an assistant coach for the Black Bears.

Hyland, a junior, finished the game with 39 points, 1,026 for his career. He still has this year’s tournament and his senior season to eclipse Markwood and take over as South Portland’s all-time leading scorer.

“Keegan is a very special player who works so hard on his game,” said South Portland coach Phil Conley. “It was great to see him get his 1,000th point as a junior. He deserves it. He’s deserved every point he’s gotten in his career. He’s tightly guarded. He earns every point. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a great person, a wonderful student, he’s the total package.”

The game was stopped for a few moments as Hyland’s feat was announced to a standing ovation from the Red Riots’ faithful, a number holding up signs. Hyland, his parents and Conley gathered at midcourt for a photo op with the game ball. Conley said the ball would be painted and placed in the South Portland trophy case.

“It was a great moment,” Hyland said. It’s what I’ve been working for. I work really hard in the offseason to try to accomplish my goals. That was one of my goals – it was probably a little ahead of my goal – I wanted to get it as a senior. … It was a good moment with my family. It was pretty special for me.”

Hyland knew he was 13 points shy of 1,000 going into the game, but said he tried not to let it distract him. Plus, there was a more pressing matter at hand: Defeating rival Portland and securing the No. 3 seed entering the Class A West tournament.

“Losing and getting 1,000 isn’t as good. I’d rather win and not get 1,000,” Hyland said. “Getting both, it satisfies both of them. It’s a great feeling. The win gives us a push going into the playoffs.”

Despite being the focal point of every opponent’s defensive game plan, Hyland has scored in double figures in all 18 games this season. He’s averaging a league-best 27.7 points a game. As a sophomore, he led the SMAA with an average of 17.6 points a game.

Reaching 1,000 points as a junior isn’t unheard of in Maine. Over the years there have likely been a few dozen players to do so, though no official records exist. However, the milestone is usually reached at smaller schools. It is rare in Class A, even rarer – perhaps unprecedented – in the SMAA.

Brunswick’s Ralph Mims, who went on to play at Florida State University, accomplished it, but even Deering standout Nik Caner-Medley, who went on to a good career at the University of Maryland, didn’t reach 1,000 until early in his senior season.

“To score 1,000 points in our league is pretty tough, because the teams are usually pretty good and so are the players,” said Portland coach Joe Russo, who couldn’t recall an SMAA player ever to do so as a junior. “Hyland’s a real good player. I’m happy for him.”