1,000+ Reasons to Cheer

It’s not the first time senior Larry Patterson has caused a commotion. In fact, in his four years at Principia School, he’s done it multiple times and in multiple sports. As a junior, he crushed previous School football records for rushing and touchdowns, and this past season he was named the ABC League co-MVP. He has earned second and sixth place finishes in state track competitions, and now he’s achieved yet another feat—netting his 1,000th career point in basketball. Patterson was already the School’s all-time leading scorer, and now, as far as we know, he’s the first player in Upper School history to reach the 1,000-point milestone.

Patterson scored that record-setting point near the end of a game in February against St. Louis Priory School. A point guard, he hit a routine 3-pointer, completely unaware of its significance until cheers erupted as the ball gracefully slid into the hoop. “I had no idea what was going on,” Patterson said. “I was just shooting my shot and then the crowd went wild, and I was like, ‘What is happening?’” For Coach Tom Bania, Patterson’s accomplishment is even more significant because, as point guard, it was never Patterson’s job to score a lot of points. “He achieved that landmark without it all being about him,” Bania said, noting that this was characteristic of the four-year varsity starter. During this game, like many others, “there were so many opportunities when he could have shot,” Bania pointed out, “and instead, he gave the other guys passes for layups.”

“He is truly a pleasure to watch,” says Athletic Director Travis Brantingham. “But scoring 1,000 career points pales in comparison to what Larry has brought to the Principia community over the last four years. He embodies the best of a Principia athlete—demonstrating grace, poise, courage, and unselfishness while striving to live a life full of joy and humility. As the star on both the football and basketball teams, Larry never took credit for his athletic success but instead attributed it to God and then to his teammates. In basketball he is a ‘pass first, shoot second’ type of player. In football, he is the guy that streaks down the sideline for a touchdown, but will just as gladly deliver a bone-rattling block to protect the quarterback.”

Patterson’s Principia basketball career concluded last night (March 4) when the Panthers lost in district competition. The team ended their season with a record of 16 wins and 8 losses.