Nothing came easy this season. Not a regular season that saw two loses. Not a playoff run that had a close nail-biting one point victory against Connetquot, not a Long Island championship that saw Sachem trailing 21-7 in the first half, and finally not a banner unveiling ceremony at Sachem North.
With the spotlight on Sachem’s six captains in the gymnasium Friday night, they pulled the string on an updated championship banner, but nothing happened. The strings broke and the shroud covering the banner didn’t budge. Coming up clutch as he did all season, Malik Pierre finally jumped up and ripped the cover off.
The team walked out to the center of the gym floor as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” played during halftime of the Sachem East vs. Sachem North boys basketball rivalry game.
After “2013” was revealed under the Long Island and Suffolk County champion sections of the football banner, the school fight song played and the team posed for photos at center court.
Senior Bryan Morris carried the Long Island championship trophy out, while senior Mike O’Donnell held the Long Island title plaque.
Fans, parents and supporters got first crack at purchasing Sachem’s new Long Island championship t-shirts. They’re $20 and will also be on sale this weekend at Sachem North’s Festival of Trees and Lights.
VIDEO: Watch the banner be unveiled by Sachem’s six captains
PHOTOS: See more images from the banner unveiling
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro