Saturday, February 17, 2018

Tourney Title Led By Island Pillar

Last night was a regular ole' Friday night for most of us from Goose Creek Island.  But not for the Pamlico County Hurricanes High School basketball team and their coach, Earl Sadler Jr..  Last night was the conclusion of conference basketball and the Pamlico Boys (and girls) was crowned conference champions.  It is the first time since 1984 Pamlico swept the conference regular season and tournament titles.  Being crowned doesn't stop there.  Now it is on to district, regional and ultimately state championships (again). 

Thirty years ago this year, me and Earl Jr., along with Doug, Audrey, Lisa, Kathy, Tammy, A.J. and Lil' Henry graduated from Pamlico County High School.  It was 1988.  Amongst the basketball team in 1988 was Earl Jr. and Henry.  Henry was technically not living on Goose Creek Island, but he spent every Sunday in church here with his granddaddy Roscoe and was here more than he was in Bayboro, so I consider him an Islander with a free pass.
1988 Pamlico County Hurricanes Basketball Team.  From the 1988 Pamlicoan.

I can still see Earl Jr., Henry, Charlie, and others playing basketball down at the "tennis courts" at the old Lowland Community Center.  I even think there were some players who would drive in on Saturdays to play.  The tennis courts never really served a purpose on the Island but it became a great basketball court.  With some spray paint and putting up some basketball goals, that tennis court finally became a useful appropriation of county money at the time.

In the thirty years since graduation, our very own Pamlico County Hurricanes basketball team is lead by Earl Jr., a pillar in our community.  I don't know how many years Earl has been coaching, but I can tell you - his boys love him.  He ranks up there with other Pamlico greats such as Hubert Monk Sr. and Garry Cooper.  Must be something in the water here, because Goose Creek Islanders have always loved their basketball and baseball.

According to the news after Fridays' conference win, Coach Sadler told his guys "no matter the result, I want us to show people how to win the right way or lose the right way."  Sounds a whole lot like a Goose Creek Islander to me. 

Congratulations Hurricanes!