Junior Quintez Cephus smashed a long-standing Stratford record for most points scored in a single game by a boys basketball player on Saturday, Feb. 21.  He led the boys varsity team to victory in the first round of the state playoffs, defeating Providence Christian Academy with an impressive score of 95-80. Cephus was responsible for 53 of the points.

The previous record of 46 points stood for 33 years and was held by two former players, Richard Young (class of 1973) and Frank Morrison (class of 1982).

“He (Cephus) can do things on the court that you can’t coach just because he sees it, and he does it naturally and instinctively,” Coach Jamie Dickey said. “It’s great to coach a player like that.   It also helps to make our team better  because I think others around him try to raise their level of play.He also makes others around him better just with leadership.”

Cephus was unaware that he had broken the record while playing.

“Mr. Lawson announced it after the game, but I knew I was kind of close.  I just started screaming,” Cephus said.

The entire team had a great game that night battling the GHSA Lilburn, GA team . Junior James Mitchell scored the second highest number of points at 13. Junior Nate Brooks had 8 and senior Chandler Banks scored 6.

“James Mitchell, and all of our other guards, started making shots so it opened a lot up for me,” Cephus said.

Cephus currently holds several other basketball records at Stratford, including the highest number of career steals, career assists, and career points which total 1,954.

The girls varsity team played later that evening, defeating Fayetteville’s Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School 43-32.  Both the boys and girls team were knocked out later in the playoffs.  The boys team lost in the Elite 8 while the girls team lost in the Final Four.