All I ever wanted to do since I walked on to the basketball court at St. John's High School was to win a State Championship before I graduated.
I fantasized what that moment might be like and if I would ever get a chance. - Then came my junior year.
We made it all the way to the State Championship game only to lose. It was heart wrenching as I finally felt I had reached the moment I had always longed for.
Two months later tragedy struck again as my team's biggest fan and supporter as well as a good friend passed away.
The next season, my senior year, we dedicated our season to our supporter and friend. The whole team wrote his name on our shoes, and after every huddle we would yell his favorite phrase "Scallywags!" before we ran on to the court.
Incredibly we would win the State Championship against all odds and I would capture Massachusetts Basketball Player of the Year honors in a dream season.
The fact that I accomplished my ultimate goal and it was dedicated to my biggest supporter will be a feeling and a memory I will never forget.