For the last six years, the Corpus Christi 8th Grade Boys basketball team toiled from November through March under the determined and passionate leadership of a coach consumed by basketball. This individual used the hardwood to turn six original surrogate sons - Nick Conte, Cambrique Cooper, Endre Cooper, Dan Gouveia, Joe Purcell, and Alex Ward - into young men. His roster expanded over the years via free agency (TJ Winters), recruiting (John Vaccarino and Fred Harewood) and soccer converts (Leonard Dul and Chris Barroca). The coach even found a true assistant in which to delegate practice, Mark Venus, in their final season together. More importantly, the coach didn't even have a kid on the team. The coach who was there every step of the way is Mike Falotico.

The team has had many ups and downs through the years but Mike always praised and found a way to end their Corpus Christi tenure in a positive vein (on the advice of Corpus Christi CYO Boys Coordinator Tom Rudolph). Their third and fourth grade years had non-competitive schedules designed to learn fundamentals. Entering the "C" Division in fifth grade garnered immediate recognition qualifying them for the playoffs. A year later, they leaped to the "B" Division and missed the playoffs in the final weeks. Last year, they became only the second Corpus Christi Boys team in history to make the "C" Division Final Four in a wild ride. Mandated to advance to the "B" for their final year of CYO play, they fell on tough times (along with two other Final Four participants) finishing with a 4-8 record that included an unwarranted forfeit. Despite the roller coaster years, the players never lost the love for their coach or their lust for the game. The feeling was entirely mutual.

The team had one last chance as they prepared for the 32nd Annual St. Vincent de Paul Basketball Tournament in Elmont. The opening game was a rematch of an in-season toasting by St. Catherine's of Franklin Square. Corpus Christi was ready and the game was a nailbiter. Trailing by two at the end of the first and leading by the same margin at the half, the Maroon Men were led defensively by Gouveia, Dul and Harewood. The game was deadlocked with a quarter to play and finished in that fashion at the end of regulation behind strong rebounding from Vaccarino and Barroca. With the game on the line in the final seconds, St. Catherine's made a free throw and took the game by a single point, 39-38. Balanced scoring as computed by Assistant Team Statistician Julie Falotico (the NCAA Chief of Statistics has already called with a tournament job offer) was led by Winters with 10, Ward nailing 8, Camby and Purcell netting 7 and Dre canning 6. With backs to the wall facing their final conquest, Christi had to respond.

A losers bracket had the Corpi face off against the hosts from St. Vincent with Venus at the helm. A nip and tuck game broke open late Marooning de Paul. Alex Ward was hot from the outside finishing with 12 points with Winters picking up the slack with 9. Camby Cooper slammed home a nickel and Chris Barroca banked home a quartet with Fred Harewood slipping a deuce through the square. John Vaccarino and Endre Cooper were tireless with contributions in the lane that did not make third string scorekeeper Ward Sr.'s sheet but made an absolute difference in the outcome, 34-29. The semifinals awaited.

St. Raymond's was next on the ladder and it wasn't close. Playing with six over the holiday weekend, the Corpi rocked the third quarter deciding the game, 46-37. Head stat man Winters the First returned with a plentiful record as TJ boasted 16 points, 3 assists and 4 steals. Camby Cooper had an enlightening double-double combo with 15 points and rebounds, two assists and a block. Cousin Endre grabbed 10 boards along with two points, a block and a steal. The real star was former sixth man and new starter, Chris Barroca, who chimed in five points, seven snatches, and one from columns a, b and c (assist, block and steal). Alex Ward continued his hot streak from the perimeter with 8 points while Johnny Vaccarino snared a pair of rebounds while blocking and stealing the leather on one occasion. Needing a win to stay alive until the final, Falotico's Fearless prevailed to the Championship game.

The final forged a rematch with St. Catherine's. The difference was bench strength - St. Kate's had a full roster while the locals had but one reserve. As the game wore on, depth would take its toll for Double C. Down by a bucket at the half, triple teaming half court pressure on ballhandlers Ward and Winters ruined a valiant effort from the Mineola sextet. For the first time in ages, Corpus Christi had three scorers in double figures, Winters (16), Ward (13) and Barroca (10). Camby duplicated his semifinal performance of 15 rebounds to go with 8 points while Endre Coop had three points and six glasses. Johnny V spelled the troops with valuable minutes in the tailored zone that the team is noted for. Barroca added 12 boards and a steal while Winters dished 5 dimes. The final score of 57-43 was not indicative of how hard the boys played in their final game in a Corpus Christi uniform. The boys received second place trophies, the first hardware they have ever seen as CYO players, while they presented Coach Falotico with an autographed Corpus Christi jersey signed by his troops in the post game reception.

As Falotico's tutelage comes to a close, his satisfaction could never be higher and he won't be far away. His novices have flourished and he has a variety of venues to view his heroes. He has placed his boys throughout various programs in the area (Mineola, Kellenberg, Chaminade and the Long Island Lightning, among others) providing the Battalion Chief with plenty of hoop action in upcoming seasons. Best of all, he was kept a youth league team together for an eternity in today's environment and fostered not only success but sportsmanship. None of this would be possible without the support of parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends and the ongoing dedication of the Corpus Christi CYO Board and the Parochial staff of the Parish. The boys bid farewell to a chapter that will serve them well. And none of them will forget the contribution Mike Falotico has made to their lives rather than their basketball skills. Congratulations on a job well done!