Christianson pleased with Tokoto's record-breaking efforts

They met beforehand in the dressing room and chatted, the top two all-time Menomonee Falls scorers, and then they met again after the game in a ceremony meant to honor the moment, the younger one surprised at how tall the older one was.

And they were impressed with one another.

"Just the other day someone finally sent me a You-Tube (video) full of his (J.P. Tokoto's) highlights," said 1993 Falls grad and two-time NOW All-Suburban Player of the Year Brad Christianson. "I had heard a lot about him but had never seen him play before that.

"Myself, I was more of an eyeball-level player. Dribble, pass, shoot, but I tell you, I would have needed a springboard to do some of the things that he can do (laughs). His game is based on hard work and a great deal of athletic ability.

"NBA-level athletic ability."

Tokoto, who passed Christianson's all-time scoring mark with a 3-pointer from the wing on Friday during the Indians' win over West Allis Central, was equally impressed with Christianson's generosity and decency.

"It was an honor to meet him and pretty cool, too," Tokoto said. "I had met him before, but for only a little bit. He was very sincere and nice. I just didn't expect him to be so tall (Christianson is 6-7 while Tokoto is 6-6). Just a very genuine guy."

Falls coach Dan Leffel made sure that Christianson was part of the ceremonies Friday night. Tokoto needed 21 points to break the record and he finished with 30. Christianson presented Tokoto with the game ball afterward. Tokoto finished the game with 1,437 career points while Christianson had 1,427 in his Hall of Fame time at Falls

Both knew the meaning of the event clearly.

"I was very glad to be included with all this," Christianson said. "Any record is meant to be broken. Different times, different players. … When you're a competitor, you always want to be the best. I was just glad to be part of good teams (two WIAA sectional finalists) that established records and standards that we could really be proud of.

"We set a good standard for people like J.P. to shoot for. I still have a great deal of pride in having grown up in and then playing for Falls. Great moments, great teams."

3-pointers make a difference

Christianson knows of different times and different standards, as he remembers meeting former Falls all-time leading scorer and former Marquette University standout Bob Wolf. He noted that he heard that if there had been a 3-point line back when the long-range sharpshooter Wolf was playing in the early 1960s, neither he nor Tokoto would have had a chance at the scoring mark.

Tokoto himself is proud of the record but glad that the moment is passed. He is still the player, caught up in the moment of bettering his team, making sure that this, his final year in the Falls, is a memorable one.

"I honestly didn't know how close I was until coach (Leffel) told me about it at the start of the season," Tokoto said, "but to be honest, records don't matter as much to me. Finishing the season off well and the post season (WIAA Tournament) are what matters. We still believe that we can be a great team and beat anybody out there. We've just got to start zero for zero everyday. A fresh slate."

Christianson can relate. He and his family recently moved to Elm Grove from the Boston area, where he had lived for many years after completing school at Boston College with a degree in accounting. He had received a Division I scholarship from BC and was a two-time captain of teams that won Big East Conference titles and made three NCAA appearances.

He said he frequently stoked his competitive fires after college by playing in some high-level rec league ball.

"I've got the sore knees to prove it," he laughed.

SI cover boy

And Christianson couldn't help but laugh at the fact that he has one little thing he can still hold over the highly regarded, highly recruited Tokoto, who signed a letter of intent to attend national power North Carolina.

A long time ago, in Christianson's freshman year at Boston College, his Eagles upset a highly touted Carolina team in the NCAA Tournament.

"I wasn't playing much then, just mostly garbage minutes," he said, "but somehow a part of my face wound up on the cover shot that week for Sports Illustrated. I was just lucky. I knew who to grab (after the final buzzer).

"That's something that J.P. can also shoot for."

Then Christianson got a bit serious thinking about what happened Friday.

"It was a great opportunity for him (Tokoto), a great moment. I'm just glad someone thought of me and was kind of enough to let me be a part of it."

For his part, Tokoto knows that he's now the standard-bearer, and a beacon for the future.

"Every time a kid now steps onto that court, they may not be as highly recruited as I was, but they still have the same shot at the record that I did," he said. "They now have something to shoot for."