St. Christopher's Clark Academy Varsity Basketball Team is Best of the Bunch

Last Tuesday, dozens of teenagers and adults filled the gymnasium of Clark Academy in Dobbs Ferry for the varsity basketball team’s last home game of the season. It was a day after the Knights (11-7) ranked the highest in two class levels in Section 1 for the first time, which made them the best among 13 schools in their section.

“For the first time in our basketball program’s history, we ranked as the top basketball team in both Class C and D,” said Clark Academy Head Coach Anthony Gaines. “For the last two years, we have been ranked anywhere from 2nd to 4th, but we finally broke through to claim the top spot.”

This achievement is far beyond just a win for this small school’s basketball team. It’s a personal achievement for each player, many of whom came to Clark Academy after having gone through traumatic experiences. Clark Academy is part of St. Christopher’s, Inc., an organization dedicated to serving the needs of teens with emotional, behavioral and learning challenges across a broad spectrum.

“Being here helped me get out of my situation,” said Antonio Lowden, 18, of Yonkers, a day student at St. Christopher’s Clark Academy. “School was rough back home. I had a lot of problems with anxiety and was scared of the shootouts in the projects where I lived. Basketball at Clark Academy helps me keep my mind off of those things. As long as I’m playing basketball here, I’m OK. I barely have issues with anxiety now.”

Lowden is one of the team’s star players, a graduating senior who hopes to continue playing basketball at Dutchess Community College. Lowden’s friend, Andre Carthorn, who is a residential student at St. Christopher’s and the second leading-scorer in Clark Academy’s history, agreed.

“St. Christopher’s and this basketball team really made a positive impact on my life. My attitude changed and I realized how to look at things in a positive way. That’s because we have a coach that really cares about us, even outside of the basketball court,” Carthorn said. “This was our best season because he taught us how to play well as a team.”

More importantly, being a part of Clark Academy’s varsity basketball team and earning the No. 1 ranking meant that they could accomplish a goal that they sought after at the beginning of the season. Gaines added, “All of them had trouble accepting that they could be good kids. Now, their self-esteem has improved and they know they can achieve things.”

As the team lined up for the start of its game on Tuesday, it was evident that the players would succeed whether they lost or won – a player wore a shirt that read “Believe, Succeed, Achieve.” But, they did win that game against Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School, 85-54.

Clark Academy will compete at sectionals on Friday, February 26, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. The Knights hope to come out a winner there, but according to Gaines, “Even in losses, we take something positive out of it.”

Founded in 1881, the organization provides a learning environment that nurtures the whole child in an immersive, incentive-driven program that inspires individual, social and intellectual growth. With four campuses, St. Christopher’s offers residential, educational, therapeutic, recreational and social services coordinated and implemented by a highly trained professional staff.

“Coach Gaines, and Assistant Coaches Nick Federice, Jean Marcelious and Anthony Fava have won a combined 5 Section I Gold Balls in the 10 years we have participated in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association,” said Robert Maher, CEO of St. Christopher’s. “All four coaches are outstanding role models for our student-athletes and have always gone above and beyond for all our students. The greatest achievement however was not the 5 Section I Titles but rather the Sportsmanship Award that Coach and his boys won last season!”

About St. Christopher’s, Inc.
St. Christopher’s, Inc. is an innovative adolescent development organization dedicated to helping children with special needs and their families by delivering a seamless continuum of care. We provide quality education; therapeutic intervention and life planning skills in a safe and nurturing environment with the goal of helping each child reach his/her full potential. For more information about St. Christopher’s, Inc., visit www.stchristophersinc.org.