Lit Circle 5

For our fifth lit circle we discussed the last two chapters which is from pages 116-142. On page 116 Cruz showed up at Coach Carters house saying that he wanted to come back and play for the Richmond High Oilers again. The next day Coach Carter had a meeting in the library with the Board of Education. Teachers, students, parents of players, and community members were all present at the meeting. The meeting first started off by the Board of Education talking to caoch Carter about the GPA requirements. Coach carter required the team to maintain a 2.3 GPA when the state only required a 2.0. People began yelling at Coach Carter. One of the teachers motioned to end the lockout. The motion was passed. Choach Carter stood and replied, "You will not have to terminate me, I will quit." The next day Ken Carter was heading to the school to pack up his things, as he walked into the gym he saw the Richmond High basketball team members sitting in desks working on homework, or studying. Lyle stood up and said "Sir, they can cut the chain off the door but they cant make us play." One week later, Ken Cater walked into the library where his team was studying,he gave the team good news by telling them that they can now play basketball again. Coach Carter was proud of his team because they had achieved their goals, as a team. The next day they had a game against Arlington. The Richmond High Oilers were back in action, they had won their first game since the lockout. Following the game the team members went to Coach Carters office to see if they had made the playoffs. The phone rang and Mr. Carter answered it, he told their team that they had made it to the playoffs. They found out that their next game would be against St. Francis. A few days later the Richmond High Oilers were going to be facing there toughest opponet yet. They go into the game knowing that it was going to be a battle. The boys basketball team ended up loosing against St. Francis, of course the team was sad. Coach Carter told the team that they had not lost the game they had just ran out of time.

The Richmond Oilers did not win the state championship... but they won nine college scholarships.

Junior Battle went to UNLV on a full scholarship.

Timo Cruz attended Tulane University and returned to California to become the starting quarter back for Humboldt State University.

Kenyon Stone attends San Jose State University and is currently considered a lock for the NFL draft.

Damien Carter continued to dominate the league as a guard for Richmond. He eventually broke the scoring and assists records previously owned by his father Ken Carter. Upon graduation from Richmond in 2001, Damien Carter recieved a full scholarship to West Point.

Ken Carter still lives in Richmond remains close with his sisters...all seven of them. Carter continues to run the Coach Carter Foundation, the focus of which is education.