A victory eight years in the making

The 16- and 17-year-old boys defeated Elmont’s St. Vincent de Paul Parish in overtime on Nov. 17 to secure the championship. From top left were assistant coach Alex Clark, Tommy Banker, head coach Tom Dolan, Chika Ewulu, the Rev. Robert Holz, Alex Berger, Matt Caramante, Joe Forrler, and assistant coach Frank Caramente. Kneeling from left, were Tommy Dolan, Ian Arshad, Ryan Bergmann and Brandon Callaghan. Sean Clark and Brian Kavanagh are not pictured.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

The St. Raphael’s Catholic Youth Organization championship team gave a boost to Tommy Dolan, 16.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Brandon Callaghan, 16, joined the team two years ago.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

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When the St. Raphael’s Senior Division basketball team won the Catholic Youth Organization Nassau-Suffolk County championship on Nov. 17, it represented more than just a single victory. For the 16- and 17-year-old boys — the majority of whom have played together since fourth grade — it capped years’ worth of teamwork, selflessness and commitment.

For head coach Tom Dolan, who played basketball at St. Raphael’s when it was a grammar school, and whose son Tommy is a member of the team, it was a moment that brought his life full circle, connecting his past and present.

And for all involved — the players, coaching staff and parents who supported them — it was a victory eight years in the making.

All of the boys attend East Meadow High School except for one, who attends Chaminade High School in Mineola. They have stuck together through thick and thin, and have formed a tight bond in the last decade. And that bond led to success on the court, as they bested 30 teams from across Long Island in a 10-game season, followed by a two-week playoff over the course of just over a month, culminating with back-to-back thrilling overtime wins to claim the championship.

“It was a team effort,” Dolan said. “So many kids sacrificed their own playing time or positions to help the team in any way possible.” He added, “That’s what makes a championship team.”

Dolan, 47, attended Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville in the early 1980s after graduating from St. Raphael’s, and was among a group of people who resurrected the CYO program years ago. “The fact that it brought it back to my roots,” Dolan said, “watching my son win a championship, with my family and friends there, was cool.”

In addition to Dolan, the team’s members include juniors Tommy Banker, Ryan Bergmann, Joe Forrler, Brandon Callaghan, Alex Berger, Brian Kavanagh, Matt Caramante, and senior Ian Arshad. Junior Billy Leonard is a team member on injured reserve. Sean Clark, also a junior, is the lone player from Chaminade. Nearly all of them, said Dolan, play basketball for their respective schools.