HighSchoolElite.com's Player Journals- Clair 7

Frank's notes:
On Saturday, March 13, Frank Clair and Leo were crowned Illinois Class A champions. With a 65-57 defeat of Winnebago at Peoria's Carver Arena, they kept the Class A title in Chicago's Catholic League after Hales Franciscan won the title last year. Frank led his team with 25 points (10-of-13 shooting), six rebounds and two blocks in his final high school game. He was his team's top scorer in both the title game and the semifinals (17 points) -- a 70-55 win over Quincy Notre Dame. Frank had only nine points in the quarterfinals, a 59-43 win over Breese Central, but Alan Downing and Keelan Donald took over the scoring load with 14 points apiece. In that game, super sixth-man Tracy Robinson also stepped up for Leo, adding 13 points (10-of-12 free-throw shooting), seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Robinson began his career at Leo as a 5'10" guard and has blossomed into a versatile 6'7" wing player who Frank called invaluable to his team's success.

On Saturday, March 13, Frank Clair and Leo won the Class A state title by defeating Winnebago. Leo poses after winning its game in the Lisle High School Shootout at the beginning of the season.

This past weekend was by far the best experience I’ve ever had with this ball club.
We finished the season on top by winning the Class A state championship in Peoria.

We started our state championship run with a big win over Breese Central which was a very good ball club. We thought they’d give us match-up problems down-low, but we were able to contain their post players well throughout the whole night.

I personally think Quincy Notre Dame gave us our biggest challenge. They were a very talented team. They had a true point, a true post player and tones of wing players who were dead-eye shouters from deep, so I take my hat off to them.

I didn’t really get off to a great start the first game against Breese Central, but I redeemed myself in the second game. I was in some foul trouble early on in the game but we still won so it really doesn’t matter.

In the last and final game of my high school career we played a very good Winnebago team which featured super sophomore Devan Bawinkel; he is a very good player and at 6'5" he has a very bright future.

Coming into this game I told myself that this would be the biggest game on the biggest stage of my high school career, so I wanted to go out with a bang. I finished with 25 points. To me this was the best game I’ve ever played in, and now I can leave high school knowing that my high school career is complete.

As a team we made a lot of sacrifice to get to this point, from Alan Downing to Tracy Robinson. We have been trough a lot together and as a group we've grown closer together as a family.

Also, I think Tracy Robinson is the most underrated player in the state. He stepped up his game more than anyone in the whole tourney. He was the biggest part of our state-title run. He really played well. My man Tray earned a scholarship this weekend, so give it to him colleges!

Off the court I have not been up to much, just chilling with friends and relaxing. I am still trying to recover from a pulled groin I suffered in the championship game. I can’t really run or jump so I have just been taking it as easy as possible.

I just want to thank all the people who supported us during the tourney. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the fans, family and student body.

This whole season was in the memory of a great Leo graduate Eric Lee; much love Eric, this one was for you. Mark Lee what’s up; we're still here on top. (Brothers, Eric and Mark Lee are both graduates of Leo. Frank has called Mark a mentor to him. On August 19, 2001, Eric, a former Chicago police officer, was shot and killed on duty.)

Until next time, I'm out.

Kings of Class A, state champs,

Frank