When All Hales Broke Loose

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — March 28th, 2003

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When All Hales Broke Loose

The beauty of sports is that no team stays on top forever.

 

The leaders of the pack are supposed to fall every once in a while. That's what keeps the underdogs motivated - knowing they could be the David that slays the mighty Goliath.

 

And for Hales Franciscan, a Catholic high school on Chicago's South Side, the sleeping giant woke up.

 

While most of the nation was focused on the NCAA tournament, the drama that is the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) they missed. 

 

People in Illinois know that the IHSA is the home of March Madness; it's their chance to see their sons, brothers, nephews or grandchildren play in a front of 10,000 plus at a university stadium.

 

The tournament took place in Peoria, Illinois and schools play hard all season with hopes of making that trip.

 

The Spartans of Hales finished to regular season with a record of 24-6 and won the Super-Sectionals to earn their first trip to Peoria in 10 years. 

 

Hales performance spoke for itself.

 

They would eventually go on to win state; but becoming the first all-black school to win state came with some controversy.

 

The IHSA said Hales' freshman guard Jerome Randle and sophomore Nate Minnoy, who transferred from Mt. Carmel, violated rules that prohibited athletic recruiting by Catholic schools. 

 

Hales' officials were confident they would be cleared of all allegations, while the community of Hales, located on 49th and Cottage Grove Ave., believed it was race-related. 

 

Randle provided constant contribution with his handling and penetration. 

 

"I don't try to be like anybody but myself. I like embarrassing people with my crossover," Randle said. 

 

Prior to their quarterfinal game, Coach Gray London shared an article by Mark Potash with his team.

 

The article was published in the Chicago Sun-Times a year before Hales visit to state.

 

"Since Providence-St. Mel won the title in 1985, Chicago-area representatives have produced nothing but disappointment," Potash told the Sun-Times. "Only two teams-Hales in 1993 and Aurora Christian in 1995-even have reached the championship game."

 

In the article, Potash outlines the reasons why a Chicago-area team hasn't won the Class A title since Reagan was president: superiority complex, persecution complex, style and officiating.

 

"Going down state is similar to going to the NCAA Final Four. It's something that could be overwhelming, but we did a good job focusing in on our task," said London.

 

His Spartans breezed through the quarterfinals and semifinals beating Breese Central and Warrensburg-Latham 65-47 and 62-45 respectively. 

 

The State Final wasn't going to be easy; they played the number one team, Mt. Carroll, and London said three games in two days takes it's toll on a team.

 

The semifinal games, both Hales and Mt. Carroll, were played hours before their final, however; Hales was the benefactor. They had more time after their game to recuperate.

 

"As soon as we won the quarterfinal game we put the kids on lock down. We got them lunch and got them off their feet," said London.

 

They had a lot of confidence winning their quarterfinal and London said that he had never had a team that had so much focus in a tournament environment. 

 

The State Final was played at 8:30 p.m. and Hales had support from students who rode down on the bus the cheer their team on. 

 

"Of the 10,000 fans, 9,000 were for the other team," said Randle.

 

"It's exciting when people aren't pulling for you. You have to show them," said senior forward Junies Heyward. 

 

"There's a lot of pressure being an all-black school. We had to put on a class act to win refs over," said senior center Andre Johnson.

 

London said spectators had no confidence in the team until they saw them play.

 

It was their defensive intensity and fast-paced play that forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 24-points.

 

By the end of the first period, Hales had a commanding a lead, 19-2 and looked to run away with the championship. 

 

But Mt. Carroll wasn't number one for no reason.

 

They would eventually chip away at the Hales lead point by point and by half time Mt. Carroll was down by nine points. 

 

"There was no pressure. We've been in too many tight situations to buckle. It doesn't matter whether the lead two points or 19 points," said Heyward.

 

Both London and Second Team All Conference Nate Minnoy agreed that was their main focus. 

 

London said they weren't a great offensive team - it was their defense that created their offense. 

 

"We're a team that generates runs. Anytime we get a run it puts us in a position to win," said London.

 

Mt. Carroll came back and tied the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. They took their first and only lead 30 seconds later.

 

The nail-biting came when Jeremy Haas, ending the night with 26 points, nailed a critical three to bring the Hales lead to one with 19 seconds left.

 

"The previous two times we faked long and came back to get the ball. The defense bit short both times. So we tested them long," said London.

 

A football pass the length of the court was a strike to Mike Robinson who took it in for lay up. 

 

"It rattled them so much that they threw the ball away the next possession," said London.

 

That was the game.

 

"It felt good to have the opportunity to do something most don't. It made the community look good," said Minnoy. "Second Team All Conference was a good accomplishment, but it wouldn't have meant anything if we didn't win state."