EA’s Watson reaches 1,000-point milestone during win over Monroe Academy Tuesday night

Published 1:06 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2025

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Escambia Academy junior guard Ronta Watson Jr. hit the 1,000-point milestone Tuesday night during the Cougars’ 94-38 victory over Monroe Academy at home on senior night.

Watson secured the feat on the first play of the second period. The game then stopped, and a short ceremony recognizing the accomplishment ensued.

Watson received a signed basketball and a plaque.

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“It felt good. I was happy,” Watson said about the moment Tuesday night.

Watson said he shot the 3-pointer with the help of his teammates.

“I was taking the ball out, and I passed it to Christian (Burks),” he said. “He passed it back to me, and we swung it around and made it to the other side.”

From there, Watson said Burks got the ball back at the top of the perimeter, and he then received the ball on the left wing, where he shot the trey.

Watson said it feels good to get to this point in his young basketball career.

“Some people don’t usually get to accomplish this, but it just feels good to be able to accomplish this,” he said.

Watson said he’s played basketball, baseball and football all of his life. He began playing basketball the varsity level in eighth grade.

“It wasn’t kind of easy, but I was set to reach the 1,000-point milestone because I started playing so early in my career,” he said.

Watson said he has always enjoyed playing the sport he loves the most, adding that his parents, Lakisha Tolbert and Ronta Watson Sr. pushed him to play multiple sports.

“I just always liked basketball the most,” he said.

Watson thanked his coaches – Jerome Webster and Larry Nichols – for their help getting to this accomplishment.

“I just want to thank my coaches and my parents, most importantly,” he said. “And to God; for putting me in this position.”

He added thanks to his teachers for pushing him in the classroom.

What’s next for Watson and the Cougars?

With the Cougars’ 66-30 AISA Class 1A, Region 3 victory over Jackson Academy on Monday, EA secured the top seed going into the Elite Eight Tournament Feb. 11-12.

The Cougars play Snook in their final regular-season region game on Monday in Foley.

Watson said he feels confident in his team, and that they’ll play well.