[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E674]]
   CONGRATULATING THE DILLARD HIGH SCHOOL BOY'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR 
            WINNING THE CLASS 5A FLORIDA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
rise today to congratulate the Dillard High School Boy's Basketball 
Team for winning the Class 5A Florida State Championship. The Panthers 
won a hard fought victory against St. Petersburg's Lakewood High 
School. I would like to call the attention of my distinguished 
colleagues to this historic win for Fort Lauderdale's Dillard High 
School, located in my Congressional District.
  Few would have expected the championship game to be won easily. But 
with determination and grit, Dillard prevailed. With the score tied 26-
26 at the half, it really was anyone's game. Dillard fell behind in the 
third quarter. In the fourth quarter, through the leadership of their 
coach, Darryl Burrows, they were able to stage a comeback to win the 
game 61-55.
  No one can deny the accomplishments of these young men, and they 
should not go unnoticed. It is a testament to their character that they 
were able to overcome such stiff competition. Only through countless 
hours of practice, both on and off the court, could they have gained 
such a victory. Prior to Dillard's State Championship win, no Broward 
County high school had won a class 5A state title since 2001.
  Certainly, the Panthers can be proud of the prestige they brought to 
their high school. Similarly, Dillard High School can be proud that it 
produced such outstanding young men. The school's faculty helped 
cultivate and instill within the players the values of determination 
and sportsmanship that sharpened their skills. The names of the 
players, coaches, assistants, and administrators are: Kore White, Nigel 
Spikes, Xiandger Reliford, Ben Dinkins, Fred Landers, Javier Frazier, 
Sherman Gammage, Alen Hardy, Robert Burger, Rubyne Burrows, Courtney 
Ojeda, Jabari Caldwell, Jarrett Dieudonne, Eric Francis, Derek Foster, 
John Jackson, Clarence Doe, Darryl Burrows, Kanshea Jackson, Jamal 
DuBose, Junior Wade, DeAna'e DeSadier, Dwayne Nelson, Louis Wright, 
William Heastie, Marty Seidlin, Fred Battle, Juan Urbina, Zeb Wright, 
Quinton Williams, Tracie Latimer, Mr. Harrison, and Willie Kelly.
  At this time of the year when America's basketball frenzy is at a 
fever pitch, it is easy to focus only on the accomplishments of college 
and professional players. However, we must remember the contributions 
of young people to our society. Certainly, as the Panthers' victory 
proves, young people can, and often do, accomplish great things. This 
victory belongs not only to the players, but also to their coaches, 
family, and friends. We need to continue to invest in our local 
communities to support the institutions that improve the lives of our 
Nation's youth. In doing this, we will see winning results that will 
lead our young people to accomplish great things.
  Madam Speaker, we in Congress can learn a lot from the young men of 
Dillard High School. We need only recall their state championship 
victory to remind us of the value of investing in our Nation's 
educational system and youth programs. The Panther's commitment should 
be honored within the halls of Congress, and these young men should 
know how much pride their victory has given to their school, Florida's 
23rd Congressional District, and this institution.

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