The Corpus Christi fifth grade basketball team had battled back all year long. Each time the opponent would mount a rush, Falotico's Five tightened up on defense and unleashed a variety of weapons to retake the lead. There was no reason not to believe there was one more stand to be taken and game to be won in a survive and advance tournament

The team traveled to a neutral site in Valley Stream to battle St. Raphael's of Suffolk in a first round "C" division playoff game. Adversity struck first when starting center Cambrique Cooper would be lost for the remainder of the season due to sudden eye surgery. As he had all year long, Cooper's cousin Andre would step in and provide the muscle under the boards. Cooper would finish with nine rebounds and five points while battling foul trouble in a physically contested but evenly played matchup.

The game started out as an offensive showdown. Corpus Christi and St. Raphael's matched baskets in the first period with the locals taking a two point lead behind the balanced contributions of Joe Purcell, Alex Ward, Michael Fox and Cooper. The Mineola faction extended their advantage in the second quarter with Fox and Purcell providing the push en route to a 19-14 lead at the break. Ward was dominant on the glass behind five rebounds while Purcell cracked a half dozen. Something was missing, however. Steals were a trademark of defensive intesity all year long and were nonexistent. If not for a myriad of missed layups by the opponents, the result could have been the opposite extreme.

The run everyone expected of Corpus Christi would arrive in the third stanza. Unfortunately, the burst would be against, rather than for, the locals. St. Raphael's halted each advance and outscored CC 13-0 over the next seven minutes. Coach Mike went to his bench in an attempt to stem the tide behind Tim Goncalves, Dan Gouveia, Tommy McKeever, Nick Conte and Bryan Vesley. Regardless of the turnabout the score only read 19-27. This group of never say die-hards had one last surge that surely could rally the victory.

The teams traded field goals until a decisive call midway into the fourth quarter. St. Raphael's assistant coach had protested numerous personal fouls that a stern warning was not enough to avoid a technical foul while his own team was on the foul line. Corpus Christi would have a chance to cut into the lead with foul shots and a guaranteed possession. Down by 8 at the time, the warriors would close to 6 before a tap in would roll around the rim and out. T.J. Winters would pour down his only basket (to accompany nine rebounds, one assist and two steals) with forty-five seconds to go and a three point deficit at hand. An exhausted Joe Purcell (13 rebounds, 11 points) mustered a last gasp to close the gap with no success. Mike Fox finished the game with nine points and an assist before fouling out trying to extend the game. Despite being outplayed for the second half, Corpus Christi hit the final buzzer with a tough to stomach 32-36 defeat.