The Corpus Christi Sixth Grade basketball team has found out what it means to make the playoffs. After a stupendous season last year, Mike Falotico's team was upgraded a division for the current season and struggled early against better competition and revised rules. After a stripped down squad lost the first game and poor coaching by the Assistant cost a heartbreaker in the second, the boys came out strong and recorded their first win of the season three weeks ago as they headed into their holiday break with a 1-2 record.

In their home opener against St. Peter's, Joe Purcell dominated play with twelve points and rotated between all five court positions. Hurt by sickness, suspensions and other engagements, the seven-man squad found themselves battling the most experienced team in the league. St. Peter's consistently went to a press, a new wrinkle in sixth grade this year, against the undermanned Corpi and loaded up on easy baskets. Mike Fox, Nick Conte and Dan Gouveia all found the scoring column while Bryan Vesley, Tom Lopez and John Vacarelli took to the boards. Despite the loss, the team held their heads high and prepared eagerly for the next challenge.

The Sixers traveled to Garden City to face heated local rival St. Anne's and played a white knuckler that went down to the final seconds. No team could mount more than a two point lead during the game. Again the press was formidable, but Christi found a way to find open men. Camby Cooper was tremendous with eight points and a thousand rebounds while Alex Ward controlled the ball from the point. TJ Winters and Mike Fox alternated taking the lane and along with Endre Cooper and Bryan Vesley contributed to the scoring effort. Turnovers were the difference in the game as walking and palming calls were the theme of the day. With twenty seconds to play trailing by a deuce, Assistant Coach Tom "Pecora Jr." Winters called time and set up the key play. St. Anne's fierce man to man matchup zone made execution troublesome. Failing to foul to save time, a key mistake by the head man, left precious seconds before a half court fling fell far short and Corpus Christi was left with a devastating 20-18 defeat.

Back home to face St. Thomas of West Hempstead was the tonic for success on December 7. The two teams played even for the first half before the vaunted Corpus Christi defense of 2001 came alive. All last year the team was known for one quarter of offensive explosion and defensive intensity and the third and fourth quarters were an omen. Camby Cooper was a man possessed with fifteen points (12 in the latter half) and Alex Ward returned from pneumonia with four points and court presence. Winters, Fox, Purcell and Endre Cooper chipped in with a basket apiece and allowed nothing inside. The Sixth Senses stayed in their newly minted 2-1-2 zone for the second consecutive game with solid results. Rocco Redmond, Conte, Vesley, Vacarelli and Gouveia were instrumental in the 27-15 shutdown that provided the first victory of the season. Falotico allowed Winters to attune for his deficiencies behind the bench by being called away at the last minute from game combat. Winters, fearing for his job, did not disappoint.

Thanks go to Shannon Winters and Bill Vesley for replacing the official scorer and to Andy Ward for his work as official timer. The team has an outstanding rooting section both at Christi Gardens and on the road and sees tremendous cooperation from all its players. As a reward for their spirit, the team will be appearing at Hofstra University on January 18 during the halftime intermission of the Pride versus Old Dominion at Hofstra Arena. Tickets are selling fast and should be requested from the team as early as possible. .