MORE ABOUT HAITI
Basketball Court
This project was not fully funded by St. Mary Cathedral,
but was the brain child of then 18-year old Kyle Newell who started this whole
project by himself. During his second trip to Pendus in December 2001, he
saw the make-shift basketball area in the school courtyard area at St. Joseph
School. It was not level, rocky and not truly a safe place to try to play
basketball. Knowing that such a court would not be "next" on our list of
projects to do very soon, Kyle asked Father Cha Cha how much it would cost to
install an appropriately sized slab of cement at St. Joseph. Cha Cha responded
"$1,000."
Being a senior in high school, Kyle quietly returned to school and told this
story repeatedly to anyone that would listen -- friends, students and teachers.
He collected many $1, $2 and $5 donations and a few $20 ones! However, within
60 days he had raised the $1,000 that Father Cha Cha estimated. This money
was sent to Pendus with the March 2002 group. However, for many reasons,
the basketball court was not started in Pendus. About a year later, Father
Cha Cha called Kyle and asked if the basketball court could instead be built at
the high school -- Jean XXIII -- located about 10 miles away in Gros Morne.
He felt it would be more widely and often used there as over 300 students attend
Jean XXIII.
Jean XXIII is located on a mountain side so there was not a perfect level spot
to build this court (especially when the best spot is where the soccer field is
located). When it was laid out, the north end of the court was level with the
ground, but the south end had a 7-8 foot drop off due to the slope of the
mountain. Funding for this project from other sources was slow, but Kyle's
$1,000 got it started. It took several years for the court to be
completed. The initial step of a slab of concrete was completed first, but
no baskets were installed due to safety issues caused by the huge drop off at
one end.
Eventually an extension was built at the end with the drop off so concrete
bleachers could be built -- to allow more spectators as well as a safety
barrier to the players. Because the drop off was so large, Father Nesly --
the principal at Jean XXIII -- designed some rooms below the bleachers.
One such room is a locker room for teams to change in and one room is a
"concession stand." Because this end of the basketball court is near the
soccer field, the concession stand can service both facilities. By 2006
most of the build-in bleachers surrounding three sides of the court were
completed. The only thing left to install was lights, which were added by
2007. Now the community has a place not only for basketball but also to
have music and other events as well.
One of the first events was a basketball tournament between Gros Morne (where
Father Wilner was now located) and Port-de-Paix (where Father Cha Cha was then
transferred to by the time the court was completed). This project is a
testament to what one person with a little vision can do to make a difference!
Click here to see an updated story on the court's use from the December 2008 visit.
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger picture. Use the arrows to the left and right of the thumbnails to see more pictures in the gallery.
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Excerpt from Jeff Newell's December 2008 trip journal:
Kyle and Father Wilner Donecia planned a fund raising basketball game between the Jean XXIII High School team and our St Mary group for January 1, 2009. Here is the excerpt from my journal describing that game!
Before I was finished eating, Kyle came up to me and said “I am not going to be able to play tonight!” I thought he was teasing. But he said he suddenly did not feel well – and was getting a fever and felt like he was going to throw up. Don said he was starting to feel the same way. We were not sure what either of them had – was it malaria, dingy fever or simply something they had eaten or drank? In any case, we found a bed for him (his stuff was still at Sister Jackie’s house since he was going to stay another night there) and got a cool wash cloth for him. Sharon said she was now not going to the game so she could stay with Kyle. Don too was now not going to the game either – and Mindy said she would stay with him. Paula said she would stay with them as well.
Our basketball team was now down to me, Frank, Mike, James and Serge – meaning we would now have no subs for the game. Three of us were in our 50s and Serge had never played basketball before. Thankfully James (who is 25) knew how to play and Frank had been a very good player in his youth! What had been a really fun prospect – with Kyle we would have been very competitive – was now not looking so bright! I did not want to get embarrassed.
Frank, Mike, James, Serge, Liz, Jess, Kate, Stanley and I loaded into our vehicle and headed for the high school in Gros Morne. On the way in, w e passed Sister Jackie – who was headed back out she thought to get the rest of the group. We told them of the two new illnesses as she continued on to Gre Pin.
It was nearly 7 pm (the appointed game time) and it was well past dark as we drove into town. We stopped along the way – and without even anyone getting out of the vehicle, found Mike some cigarettes and a small bottle of rum. I do not every remember rum being a part of any pre-game preparations in the past, but it seemed like a great idea tonight! It did get passed around!
Only two of the six lights were on over the court when we arrived at Jean XXIII. However, the music (on two huge speakers) was already blaring. The first person to greet me when we arrived was Dief (pronounced Jeff). We helped bring him to Indianapolis back in Dec 2001 to have heart surgery there. Now 18, he has grown to where he is nearly as tall as me.
No one – except several guys running the music system – was there besides us. It took over a half an hour for anyone to bring us a basketball so we could start to warm up. Remember we were supposed to start at 7. The other team did not even show up until about 7:45 – and only five of them were there at first. They were dressed in red uniforms and all were similar in size (about 5-10 to six foot and slender in build). Finally two others showed up for them. I felt we would be in real trouble if they could start running on us – and substitute all night long to stay fresh.
Father Wilner finally showed up – as did nearly 500 paying customers! When he arrived, he asked, “Where’s Kyle?” I told him he did not come as he did not feel well. He responded, “Oh Oh! You lose!” Even the odds-makers could read the writing on the wall!! We were already tired and afraid of stiffening up merely by the time our extended warm-up finally ended.
For the only time all night, the music stopped as both sides were individually introduced. Father Nestly (the principal at Jean XXIII) coached the home team. I fully expected the lights (which were now all on) to go dim and have some introduction for the home team similar to the Chicago Bulls in Michael Jordan’s day! The ref – who spoke some English – said we would have 15 minutes quarters. With no subs, I immediately suggested eight minutes. I thought they agreed on that – but I did not realize there was no clock anywhere visible to anyone on the court. They must have been using a running clock simply by using someone’s wrist watch! That soon would make a difference as we had no idea where we were time wise in a quarter or whether to hold the ball for a last shot.
Built on the side of a mountain along the Jean XXIII High School, the court was regulation sized with built in concrete bleachers on three sides. The fourth side was just enough room for both teams to sit on chairs in front of a concrete wall. Our team never did sit on those chairs. There was no need to as we did not have any subs and during time outs, we simply stood where we were on the floor at the time so save the energy from going to the bench and back!!
Like any outdoor court in America, the concrete could be slick in spots and also had a few spots with rough cement. That is simply part of home court advantage – knowing the good and bad spots. There were also good and bad spots in terms of the lighting. The lights were low enough that many times a passed ball could be lost briefly in the glare of the lights. Those realities – coupled with the fact that Frank did not play with his glasses on (for fear of them getting broken) 8 0 caused many of our normal basketball reactions not to seem very fluid!
To keep score, they simply had a chalkboard leaned up against the wall between the two benches. There were two columns – one labeled “Jean XXIII” and the other “Indiana”. Someone had to erase any prior score and write the new after each basket. Without any subs or a coach, we had to keep an eye on the scoreboard to make sure we got credit for all our points. We were not afraid of cheating – but most of the folks that were there, seemed more interested in the music and socializing than in paying close attention to the game.
Finally we started. The music was so loud all game long it was impossible to talk to each other – even to try and help each other on defense. You simply could not hear, even if you screamed at each other. Being old teammates, Frank and I suggested an opening play. James would jump center, tip to Frank while I broke for the basket. Hopefully we would catch them off guard. It worked too – except that as I went in for the layup, I hit one of the slick spots and nearly fell on my butt. The ball went in and I was not called for traveling so we led 2-0 just seconds into the game.
We actually led 8-3 at one point and hope sprang within us that we just might stay competitive – at least until we ran out of gas! They stayed in a 2-3 zone defense. I was disappointed as I felt we could run pick and roll all night between Frank, James and I had they been in man-to-man. However the zone allowed us to walk the ball up the floor after every defensive rebound and not expend any unnecessary energy. James, Frank and I got most of the rebounds at the defensive end. They did not penetrate or score well in the paint. Instead they relied on the three point shot. Don had told us from his night here early in the week that they were not great outside shooters. Unfortunately tonight they were hitting – at least close to half of their three-pointers.
When we had the ball, I did not help crash the boards for rebounds as I was afraid they would then be able to try to fast break on us. They did try several times but rarely were successful. Once I came from behind to block the shot into the bleachers much to the crowd’s delight. Twice I took a charge to stop a fast break – and both times got the charging call. I was surprised! Therefore, they seemed content to slow it down and try to set up a half court offense – a pace that pleased each one of us!
The first two quarters seemed about right – for a fifteen minute running clock. They led us by eight at halftime. Of course halftime was more of a continual party – especially for those in the stands that came out to shoot or dance (meaning we were not going to get to warm up again). There were concessions being sold. I wish I could have seen all that was available, but I did see soft drinks, beer and rum in the stands. I assume there was some food too.
We stayed close in the third quarter – I think we trailed only four points. James turned out to be a very good basketball player – and big enough that they had no one that could guard him one-on-one. His ability to drive and shoot in close – as well as Frank’s mid-range jumpers – kept us close. However, at the end of the third quarter, we had what seemed to be a longer break than we had at halftime. First the ref told me it was halftime – which I thought we had just had a half hour ago! He then told me, “You looked tired so we thought you needed a rest!” I think the truth was there were still concessions to sell and no one wanted anything to go to waste. They were using this event as a fundraiser after all!
Finally the last quarter started. At one point we trailed 55-51 when both a foul and a technical were called on their defense on James on his drive to the basket. I remember Jess telling us that this quarter had already lasted nearly 40 minutes by then! James had me shoot the technical. I hit one of two shots. We got the ball too and immediately I found Frank open in the left corner. When he drained the three-pointer we were tied at 55-55. Unfortunately with no clock, we had no clue how much time was left and whether we could attempt to stall the rest of the way.
They came down and hit a three pointer on their next possession to regain a lead they would not relinquish. The final score wound up 64-55. A good showing and a competitive showing! We were all drained. I know I will never forget this experience – I only wished Kyle could have played since it was his idea. I think our box score wound up with James scoring 32 points, Frank 20 and me three. Mike and Serge did not score -- I do not think either one even took a shot!
When the game was over, I thought that Andre needed to have a Creole class session on the vocabulary associated with such a game – words such as foul, timeout, traveling, how much time is left, whose ball is it etc! Maybe he will.
After the game, I learned that Sister Jackie had brought Sharon and Kyle back to her house (since Kyle had thrown up at Gre Pin). Their house overlooks the basketball court and a game can easily be viewed from the balcony. Sharon said she came out a couple times to check on our progress, but spent most of the time sitting by Kyle in his room. Kyle told me the next day that about the start of our last quarter he could hear the music and that he began to feel a little better. He told Sharon he wanted to pull a Willis Reed (meaning come out onto the court unexpectedly and lead the team to victory as Reed did for the Knicks in the early 1970’s!), but that analogy was lost on her! He then thought it best not to chance it and stayed put!
We did not get back to Gre Pin until 11 pm. Everyone still there was in bed. Frank, James, Serge and I got showers. Only the showers at one end of the building were working – and no one seemed available to help. We managed – still talking and relishing the experience we had just endured. We finally got to bed at 11:30. A lot happened in just one day!
