The Northern Section single season scoring record fell last week behind the impressive scoring of
Austin Larson of
Redding Christian (Palo Cedro), who now squarely has 1,000 points in his sights.
Larson finished the regular season with 844 points, surpassing the previous section record of 823 points by Ricky King of Quincy in 2007. Larson posted his total in 28 games, giving him a 30.1 scoring average.
With a 28-0 regular season record – which is the best regular season record in Northern Section history – Redding Christian gained the No. 1 seed for the Division 6 playoffs. That could mean as many as six more games should the Lions go all the way to the NorCal Division 6 championship game. That's a possible 180 more points or Larson, who could then finish with over 1,000 points in a season.
Only 23 players in state history have ever scored over 1,000 points in a season. Among the notable players to do so include former Phoenix Sun Paul Westphal of Aviation (Redondo Beach) with 1,040 points; former Chicago Bull Bill Cartwright of Elk Grove with 1,232 and the all-time leader Tracy Murray of Glendora with 1,505.
Another player with over 1,000 career points was Tony Clark of Christian (El Cajon) with 1,337. The future Detroit Tiger first baseman averaged 43 points per game in 1990 for the second-highest single season point total in state history. However, he only scored 27 points in his final game, a 62-48 loss to the Colusa Redskins in the Division V state championship game.
Larson also now has 1,989 points, putting him at No. 7 on the all-time career scoring list. He can pass King (2,074 career points) once again and move into sixth place.
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The single season scoring record wasn't the only record to fall in February.
Earl Johnson Jr. obliterated the single game scoring record with an offensive performance that ranks among the best in state history.
In a 79-74 win over Plumas Charter on Feb. 1, Earl Johnson Jr. of
Ipakanni Early College Charter (Oroville) scored 71 points, breaking the previous record of 57 points.
Matt Bryant of Westwood (1997) and Tom Brown of Happy Camp (1971) both held the previous record. Johnson nearly broke the record in the first half against Plumas Charter when he scored all 42 of Ipakanni's points.
Johnson tied a state record for "Most All of Team's Points" in a quarter as he scored 21 in the first and second quarters. Greg Johnson of Napa set the record in 1979.
The 71 points is the 10th highest single game total in state history, according to Cal-Hi Sports. Tigran Grigorian holds the record with 100 points in 2003 for Mesrobian (Pico Rivera).
Johnson finished the season with 596 points in 17 games for a 35.1 scoring average, which is easily the highest scoring average in section history. His lowest point total this year was 21 points and he scored 40 or more points five times this year. His 596 points represent 69 percent of Ipakanni's total scoring for the season. Johnson finished his career with 1,439 points.
Johnson also had games this year when he had single-game, three-point field goal attempts of 28, 27 and 26 (twice). All four of those totals would rank among the Top 10 in national history, according to the NFHS Record Book, for most three-point field goal attempts in a season.
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With a strong push over the past month,
Enterprise (Redding) senior
Jadyn Matthews is closing in on 700 points in a season. She has 622 for the regular season, thanks to outings of 32, 32 and 28 over her final six games of the season.
The 622 points ties Hillary Hurley for the school record. It also ranks No. 15 all-time in section history. Only seven players have ever scored 700 points in a season. Matthews also has 1,422 career points.
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With 599 points on the season,
Kaden Riccomini of
Mt. Shasta moves into second place on the all-time section scoring list with 2,322 points. Ricommini passes Jason Parker of Gridley, who finished with 2,309 career points. Matt Bryan of Westwood holds the all-time mark with 2,655 points.
Austin Larson, Redding Christian
File photo by David Steutel
