Lawson’s ‘flu game’ leads Norris to victory
Eighth-grader breaks school scoring record with 41-points
Norris’ Colton Lawson is lighting up scoreboards this season for the Senators. The eighth-grader set the single-game scoring record with 41 points ealier in December. He scored 31 points on Friday night in the opening round of the Anderson County Middle School Christmas Tournament. (photo:Tony Cox )
Eighth-grader Colton Lawson, one of the state’s top scorers, has demonstrated his ability to generate offense from anywhere on the court.
On Dec. 5, Lawson set Norris Middle’s single-game scoring record with 41 points in the Senators’ 63-43 home victory over Jacksboro.
Remarkably, Lawson achieved the milestone while battling the flu. His participation was uncertain until just before the game.
“He was sick before the game, and we weren’t even sure if he was going to play,” said Norris assistant coach Darrell Lawson, who is also Colton’s father. “It was a flu game.”
The “flu game” was referencing Michael Jordan’s famous 1997 NBA Finals performance, in which Jordan scored 38 points despite illness.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play,” Colton said. “After I warmed up, I just decided I was going to go out and play my game.”
Colton wasted no time making an impact. He scored 11 points in the first quarter, including several three-pointers, and had 18 points by halftime. He returned after the break to add 23 more points, bringing his total to 41.
Norris has often dominated opponents this season, limiting Colton’s second-half minutes in most games.
“In games he’s played after halftime, he’s had over 30 points,” Darrell said. “But with some of the teams in our district, he usually only plays a quarter or a half. I’d say he’s probably averaging 25 points per game. He plays everywhere. He’s a bigger kid, so he’s always played underneath. Then he started working on his outside game.”
While proud of his son’s achievements, Darrell assessed Colton’s performance through a coach’s lens.
“That performance was something to see, and I’m not talking as a dad, I’m talking as a coach,” Darrell said. “He plays everywhere on the floor, and he’s a nightmare for teams to defend.
“When they put a big man on him, he takes them outside; when they put a guard on him, he just takes him inside. He’s a good kid.”
Colton’s record-breaking effort was celebrated by Norris Middle School’s students, faculty and staff, with the achievement highlighted during school announcements the next morning.
Colton, however, missed the fanfare — he stayed home, still recovering from the flu.
“He was still sick and didn’t go to school the next day,” Darrell said.
Colton acknowledged the significance of his accomplishment but credited his teammates and coaches.
“It was cool to make school history, and that was great,” Colton said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.
“I had the support of my teammates,” he said. “I’d like to thank them, and I want to thank my coaches, Coach (Brent) Ellis, (former head coach) Travis Tummel, and my dad for helping me become a better player.”
