2024 -- H 8198

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2024 DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE 2024 RHODE

ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Sanchez,
Kislak, DeSimone, O'Brien, Batista, and Perez

     Date Introduced: April 24, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Classical Boys Basketball Team compiled one of the greatest seasons in

Rhode Island high school boys basketball history as they went a perfect 18-0 in Division I regular

season play against tough competition and then proceeded to win the 2024 Division I Boys

Championship. This led to the "Purple" earning the one seed in the State Tournament; and

     WHEREAS, After earning a first-round bye in the State playoffs, the Classical Boys

Team continued their outstanding regular season play by dispatching East Providence in the Elite

8 at Rhode Island College by 8 points, and then proceeded to dispatch Lincoln by nine points in

their Final Four game, to set up a match against arch-rival and perennial basketball powerhouse

La Salle Academy for the State Championship; and

     WHEREAS, In a thrilling title game and one of the greatest high school basketball games

ever played in Rhode Island history, the Classical Purple boys basketball squad prevailed in an

exhilarating game by one point, 67 to 66, to win the State Title; and

     WHEREAS, In a back and forth game, the La Salle Rams dominated the action early,

jumping out to an eleven point lead before Classical made a furious rally to cut the deficit to two

points at halftime. The game was tied at the end of the third quarter and the last quarter was a

nail-biting affair with the Rams taking the lead with thirty seconds left and Classical having

possession for one last chance to clinch victory. In an amazing finish, Classical sophomore

Devin Sone hit a three-point shot from the left corner to win the championship for the Purple.

Other players that came up big for the Purple in the title game were Eliezer Delbrey with 17

points, Jordan Duke with 14 points, Azzy Harrison with 14 points, and Abdul Evans with ten

points; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship in a team sport is an amazing and difficult

achievement requiring that every player on the team give everything they have at all times and

place team goals ahead of personal desires and aspirations. The Classical High School Boys

Basketball Team was blessed with an abundance of these qualities as they were led all season by

the outstanding play provided by Jarell Johnson, Jordan Duke, Abdul Evans, Azzy Harrison, Jake

Fitzpatrick, Devin Sone, Bam Adebayo, Michael Leblanc, Arnold Mukama, Emmanuel Greene,

Eliezer Delbrey, and Kenneth Romero. The Purple were also blessed all season to be led by the

outstanding coaching provided by Head Coach John Kavanagh, and Assistant Coaches Josh

Cabrera, Kealen Ives, Albert Schiavone, Dan Grzych, and Christopher O’Connell; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

heartily congratulates the Classical Boys Basketball Team on winning the 2024 Rhode Island

Division I State Championship and the 2024 Rhode Island Interscholastic League Boys

Basketball State Tournament; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Classical Boys Basketball Team Head

Coach, John Kavanagh.

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