Patterson Dew ’24 came out dressed like he normally would be for Senior Night.
Give the beloved team manager and Christ School’s coaching staff an award for craftiness because their surprise was yet to come.
Following the pregame ceremony, Patterson dipped back into the locker room, emerging in a crispy white No. 20 uniform that hasn’t been worn all year. Patterson followed his own miss to score his first varsity basket at the 4:42 mark of Friday's second quarter, a neat moment on an evening that was full of them for a huge Greenie senior class.
An 85-69 win over the South Charlotte Thunder was the last regular-season home game for Patterson, Cole Boyer ’24, Jamari Briggs ’24, Bryson Cokley ’24, T.J. Hamilton ’24, Jozohn Price ’24, Lleyton Thomas-Johnson ’24, Keenan Wilkins ’24, Calvin Williams ’24, and Bruce White ’24. Henry Stuart ’24 helped call all the action for the Christ School Broadcast Network and is the team’s other senior manager.
With just over a minute left to play, Greenies coach Josh Coley subbed in all 10 seniors who were in uniform, drawing a symbolic technical foul.
“We have seniors who have been here, seniors who have earned it, and I told them in the locker room that they’ve had an incredible senior year,” Coach Coley said.
“No matter what happens from this point forward – we’re guaranteed one game (in the NCISAA 4-A state playoffs) – but their career, what they’ve done here, and helped build. It’s been amazing. I’m proud of them. They are passing along the program to the younger guys, so they can hold onto it, and continue to grow it.”
Christ School led 11-0 before South Charlotte ever scored and had doubled up the visitors at halftime, 54-27.
Scorers for the Greenies were: Jozohn (14 points), Bruce (13), Bryson (12), T.J. (eight), Jamari (seven), Mikey Wilkins ’25 (seven), Lleyton (six), Keenan (five), Patterson (four), Calvin (three), Mason Collins ’28 (two), Madden Collins ’25 (two), and Cole (two).
Brackets for the state playoffs should be released Sunday and Christ Schol is one of the teams in the running for a high seed and potential first-round bye. The championship game is February 24 at Ravenscroft in Raleigh.