May 24, 2007 — School spirit soared Thursday at Evelyn Williams Elementary School as students, faculty and staff assembled to congratulate the boys' basketball team, whose undefeated season led them to capture the V.I. Territorial Championships.
Amid hoops and hollers from excited schoolmates, the Scorpions were introduced one by one by Coach Kareem de Grasse and Assistant Coach Lawrence Malanga at an early-morning ceremony in the school's cafeteria.
"They look small, but they never lost a game," said de Grasse proudly from the podium. "It's all about them today." The team members, seated on the stage in matching T-shirts with medals around their necks, looked pleased at all the attention from the student body.
During the season, the team remained undefeated and won the St. Croix Championships against Juanita Gardine Elementary School by nine points. The team then went head to head against the St. Thomas/St. John district champs from Julius Sprauve Elementary School, defeating them in the first game by 46 points and in the second game by three points to become territorial champions.
The boys, who are in the fourth through sixth grades, received certificates for their individual achievements and new basketballs donated by school sponsor Bridge Capital. The coached lauded all the achievements of the players, but the natural ability of one player shone through.
Javier Martinez, 13, is a 5'11" sixth grader who has been playing the game since he was 10. "He plays like a man among boys," said Principal Carlos McGregor. Added de Grasse, "He's got a magnet in his hand that attracts the ball." Standing tall among his teammates, Martinez scored and blocked the most shots over the season, earning the title of most valuable player.
"I've been working on my shots, handling and scoring," said the gangly pre-teen in a soft voice. "We worked together as a team." Martinez said his favorite NBA team is the Phoenix Suns and his favorite player is Amare Stoudemire.
McGregor said when he watched the playoffs he had to check himself. "I had to remind myself I was a principal and not jump up and down on the bleachers," he said. The team recovered the lead after slipping behind twice in the final game, he said. "Determination is what won this championship," McGregor said.
They don't just hold their own on the court, however.
"The team is in good academic standing," McGregor said, emphasizing that school work and sports are both important to the youths. He also took time to announce that the school's fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders improved in the standardized IOWA test, with more students than ever before qualifying for gifted-and-talented classes.
Members of the community and school personnel are coming together to ensure that Martinez continues on his path to academic and sports achievements, de Grasse said. They are trying to find a boarding school off island to help him avoid falling prey to some of the social ills plaguing the territory. His mother agrees.
"She told us, 'I don't care if it is in Alaska, just find a place where my boy will achieve,'" de Grasse said, agreeing that the young player will thrive with positive attention.
Here are the game scores and award winners:
Evelyn Williams 29, Alfredo Andrews 11
Javier Martinez 19 points
Evelyn Williams 46, Claude O. Markoe 23
Javier Martinez 24 points
Evelyn Williams 48, Charles Emmanuel 18
Javier Martinez 43 points
Evelyn Williams 43, Alexander Henderson 17
Javier Martinez 27 points
Evelyn Williams 43, Juanita Gardine 34
Javier Martinez 34 points
District Championship
Evelyn Williams 45, Juanita Gardine 36
Javier Martinez 22 points
Territorial Championship
Evelyn Williams 57, Julius Sprauve 11
Javier Martinez 28 points
Evelyn Williams 46, Alfredo Andrews 43
Javier Martinez 26 points
Most Valuable Player
Javier Martinez
Most Steals
Hakeem Alfred
Most Assists
Hakeem Alfred, D'Kuan Dowdye
Most Blocked Shots
Javier Martinez
Best Defensive Players
Najheem Edwards, Lenn Williams, Hakeem Alfred, Dylan Stevens
Best Sportsmanship
Dylan Stevens
Rookie of the Year
Nigel Clarke
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
