By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Goodrich — For just a second on Monday night the packed Al Martus Gymnasium at Goodrich High School fell silent waiting on just one free throw.
As the ball dropped through the net the crowd responded and a quarter century old record went down.
Just minutes into the first quarter of the Hamady-Goodrich non-conference game, GHS Sr. Parker LePla scored his 1,465 career point topping a Martian Varsity Basketball record that was set in January 1999 by GHS Sr. Jared St. Charles against the Byron Eagles.
“I’ve had really good coaching, teams and teammates,” said LePla, 18, after the game. “I’ve struggled a little with my free throws this season, so I’ve never been so nervous standing at the free throw line tonight. My hook shot is still my best. I’d like to thank my parents Kim and Brian, brother Jenson and Jesus for this success.”
On Feb. 23, 2024 Goodrich Junior Parker LePla reached the 1,000 points career mark during the Flint Metro League Championship win over Lake Fenton. LePla, has played on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year and has committed to the University Indianapolis for basketball and to study exercise science before chiropractic school.
The Martians would go on to win the game 69-57 despite trailing into the fourth quarter.
“We started slow last night,” said Head Coach Gary Barns. “Hamady is a good team and very athletic. We got behind early and I had to make some changes at halftime. They pressed us all night, but we work on the press drill every day at practice. The way you beat that is hit some shots and we went on an 18-0 run late for the win.”
Soph. Jensen LePla was the leading scorer with 33 points, one rebound, two assists, two steals and one block; Sr. Parker LePla: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 three assists, one steal, and four blocks; Soph. Colt Maynard: eight points, Sr. Landon Williams: five points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal; Fresh. Isaac Valley: five points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal; Jr. Drew Aagesen: four points and one block and Tanner Mazich: two points and one rebound.
“We brought Parker up as a freshman,” said Barns. “He uses his intelligence as a player and is fundamentally sound. A smart player and there’s never a big man he could not cover.”
Barns said LePla now tops an elite class of 1,000 point players including Tyson Davis, Tony Johnson, Nathan Landsguard, Andrew and Patrick Jared St. Charles.
“Parker is only going to get better,” said Barns. Jared and my son David were outstanding packages to have on the team.”
Jared St. Charles was contracted and responded to LePla’s accomplishment.
“Congratulations to Parker on a great achievement and good luck for the remainder of the season,” said St. Charles, who played for Goodrich from 1995-99. “The young man is a talented player. I was blessed to play for Coach Gary Barns. I also played two seasons alongside his son David Barns on the 1997-98 and 98-99 teams.”
In addition to scoring 1,464 points, St. Charles compiled an overall record of 82-12 over four years of Varsity basketball.  His teams tallied three District Championships and three Genesee Area Conference Championships over those four years.
St. Charles went on to play one year of college hoops (99-00) at Division 3 Albion College. He served as head Varsity Boys Coach at Mitchell High School from 2009-2018 in New Port Richey, Fla., head Varsity Girls Coach at Landrum High School from 2020-2024 where he took his team to the state championship in 23-24 falling in the finals. St. Charles is the current Head Varsity Boys Coach at Chapman High School in Inman, SC.