Little Rock’s Catholic High School, known for its high academic standard, religious education and discipline, recently earned a new distinction: state basketball champs.
It all happened March 8 when Catholic defeated Conway High School in the 7A state championship game. This is the first time Catholic had ever won a state basketball title in its 78-year history.
More than 6,000 people attended the game, many of whom were Catholic High faculty, students, parents and alumni. It was held in Summit Arena at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
It was no easy task. Catholic won in the final seconds of the game.
“It was definitely a nail biter,” head coach Tim Ezzi said in a phone interview with Arkansas Catholic March 10. “It was a great crowd down there, a ton of Catholics in that place. It was great.”
With 37 seconds left to play, junior Michael Drake missed a shot but sophomore Garrett Uekman rebounded it and put it in for two points giving Catholic the lead. The score was 45-44. Then with 5.8 seconds left, Conway fouled Drake who went to shoot two free throws. He made one and missed the second. Both teams went after the rebound, but the ball went out of bounds on Conway giving Catholic back possession with 4.7 seconds to play. The team went on to win 46-44.
Center John Ukadike and point guard Garrett Quinn are leaders on their team. The seniors both attend Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. They also spoke with Arkansas Catholic by phone March 10.
“It’s a great feeling. I can’t even explain it. It hasn’t even really sunk in yet,” Ukadike said. “After we started winning a few games (during the season), I think there was a little buzz that we had a shot, but it was so far off, no one could really imagine it until it actually happened.”
After the game, “everyone had T-shirts and pictures and came over to Catholic (High School gym) and we cut down the net, and just kind of went crazy.”
Among other honors, Ukadike was chosen Most Valuable Player at the state tournament. Both Ukadike and Quinn made the all-state tournament team.
Quinn said playing in front of 6,000-plus fans “was awesome.” “This has been a great experience, something I’ll never forget,” he said.
To repel nerves, he said the team tried to think of it as just another game, so, “it wasn’t too bad.” But he admits, “I didn’t even look up into the crowd until the end of the game.”
Once he realized his team had won, Quinn said, “It was such a rush. The entire team rushing the court and us going over to the fan section and me getting lifted up into the air. It was awesome.”
Not only was it the first state title for Catholic, it was the first time the team played in a basketball championship game.
“We’ve been to the semifinals four times, but we’ve never gotten all the way to the final,” Ezzi said.
He has been coaching the team for 17 years. He attends Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock. His son, Todd, is his assistant coach. The men, who are CHS alumni, teach several classes in addition to coaching.
Ezzi, 54, said he tries to stress to his players to always play hard, represent Catholic High the best they can and to show class and good sportsmanship.
The team also gets a lot of spiritual support and guidance. School counselor Brother Richard Sanker, CFP, attends all the games. “It’s great to have him with us,” Ezzi said.
Brother Richard leads the team in prayer. He says the Our Father before games and a Hail Mary at halftime, and when really needed, “he throws in a little extra emphasis sometimes,” Ezzi said.
And there is always the late Msgr. George Tribou, who is with the team in spirit. After the longtime principal’s death in 2001, Ezzi had a shamrock put on the team’s jerseys in memory of Msgr. Tribou.
In a letter addressed to parents before the championship game, principal Steve Straessle wrote, “Tenacity. That one word is the only way to describe how our basketball team has fought its way to the state championship game. The basketball team has been the mirror of Catholic High’s best efforts this season as it has been victorious, it has been defeated, it has clawed its way back to the mountaintop on sheer perseverance, and it has handled success with dignity.
“In essence, the basketball team is a reflection of all that we hold so dear. It is the tangible example of traumatic depths overcome with hope. It is the realization that determination, a strong work ethic, integrity and faith can produce amazing results. It’s our time.”
Catholic competes in the 7A division, the highest classification in Arkansas. With 675 students, Catholic is the smallest 7A school. The team beat Rogers High School 36-34 at the state quarterfinal and Fayetteville High School 62-57 in the semifinals. The team ended its season with a 20-8 record.
“We lost five of those by one point, so those were close,” Ezzi said. “Seven of the eight losses were by less than five.”