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Of all the basketball players in Stamford and Norwalk, Trinity Catholic's Jonathan Boykin seemed the least likely to be the proud of owner of a state championship. At the season's conclusion, however, the Norwalk resident is one of only two players in either city who can wear a jacket that says "State Champions." The other is Trinity teammate Tyler Walston, also a Norwalk resident.
"It's the highlight of my career,'' said Boykin, the only senior on the Trinity Catholic roster. "It's the perfect way to go out." Trinity won the Class M boys basketball title last Saturday with a 57-51 win over top-seeded Career Magnet. Boykin scored 14 points and played all 32 minutes as Trinity won its third state championship in the past eight years.
This title is by far the Crusaders' most unlikely. Trinity started the season 0-3 and stood 2-4 after a loss to Brien McMahon on Jan. 10. The Crusaders won their next six, then dropped consecutive games to Westhill and Bassick. Trinity beat Ludlowe in its next game, then pounded Ridgefield, 75-57, handing the Tigers their second loss of the season. "We knew after we beat Ridgefield we could play with anybody in the state,'' Boykin said. "We got a lot of confidence after that."
Trinity needed to win its final regular season game to make the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference playoffs, then stunned No. 1 seed St. Joseph in a first-round game. Trinity lost to eventual tournament champion Bassick in the semifinals. It won five straight road games in the state tournament as the No. 18 seed.
"The difference was we started playing together, and we trusted each other more,'' Boykin said. "We wanted to reach the ultimate goal. That was our motivation."
Sophomore guard Schadrac Casimir developed as reliable scorer and ballhandler, and Kevin Lemuene's return from an injury gave the Crusaders another scoring threat and provided solid rebounding. Boykin, however, was the team's leader.
"He was invaluable,'' coach Mike Walsh said. "He led by example. He's not real vocal, but he became vocal. I was impressed with his leadership throughout the season, along with his ability on the court."
Boykin was a freshman on Trinity's last team to reach the state finals. He was a junior varsity player on the 2007-08 team that lost to Crosby in the state final. He learned from the players on that team, which was led by Tevin Baskin and John O'Leary. One of the most important traits was composure. It was impossible to tell by Boykin's expressions whether his team was winning or losing. "I think that's why the team responded so well in pressure situations,'' Walsh said. "The only excitable guy on the court was the coach."
He also improved in every facet of the game. "The first thing that stands out is his shooting,'' Walsh said. "He shoots the ball really well now. He also learned to handle the ball, and defensively he can guard one-on-one. I think most importantly he has improved as a person. He realizes the importance of education. He's grown as a complete student athlete."
Boykin grew up in Norwalk playing at the Carver Center, the Norwalk YMCA and the city's playgrounds. He knows many of the players at Norwalk and Brien McMahon. Westhill, Stamford and Brien McMahon all qualified for the state playoffs. Only the Crusaders, with Boykin leading, ended the season with a celebration. It was a sweet ending for Boykin.
"To see him walk off with that state championship was terrific,'' Walsh said. "There's no one more deserving than him."
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