[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE 1973 VASTER MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

 Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, in the past half century, Arkansans 
have played millions of basketball games, most of which have 
disappeared into a blur of fond memories and forgotten scores. For many 
of the residents of Jefferson County, however, one game still stands 
out from the rest: the 1973 State overall championship final between 
the Vaster High School Pirates and the Little Rock Central High School 
Tigers.
  In that game, the Pirates represented a small rural community of only 
a few hundred, against the Tigers of Little Rock, a city of a quarter 
million. The Tigers were taller, better ranked, and were defending 
champs. Vaster, on the other hand, had overcome great odds just to get 
to the championship final, and few thought they had a chance. The 
Pirates could have made a halfhearted effort that March day and met 
expectations. But that is not what makes a great game and not what the 
Pirates had in mind.
  When they took the court, Vaster's coaches and players were intent on 
shattering expectations, and that is exactly what they did. Far from 
being blown out, the Pirates went toe-to-toe with the Tigers. Central 
would take the lead, only for Vaster to wrest it away. The Pirates made 
the Tigers fight for every pass, point, and inch of progress. And you 
better believe they made Central sweat. This climactic battle between 
two great teams ended in a one-point Tiger victory, after Vaster missed 
a free throw in the last 12 seconds of the game.
  Fifty years later, that game still fills many Arkansans with pride. 
It remains proof that extraordinary effort, commitment, and drive, even 
by teenagers on a basketball court, can inspire and make a difference 
years later. That is why I would like to honor the great coaches, 
players, and staff of the 1972-73 Vaster High School Pirates: head 
coach Herbert Pryor, assistant coach Andrew Carr, Cleveland Allen, Eric 
Biley, Samuel Biley, Jr., Reddic Borkins, Jimmy Dade, Carl Evans, James 
Evans, Tommy Evans, Roy Franklin, Jimmy Gladney, Homer Jackson, Melvin 
Jackson, Charles Petty, Rodney Ryce, Thomas Tarty, Ronnie Grice, Rodney 
Crawford, and Jacob Jones.
  The State of Arkansas and the U.S. Senate salute you on this 50th 
anniversary of your great game.

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