Page 6 February 7, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Sports
A Championship Week for Eagles
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Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
In the final week of the regular season for the
boys and girls basketball and soccer teams as
well the girls water polo team, we were treated
to three league titles and one memorable game.
Cameron Carlton inspired the entire school
with his basketball skills, the girls won their
first league title in the program’s basketball
history, the boys soccer team completed their
undefeated run to an Ocean League title, and
the girls water polo team will share their Ocean
League title.
Cam Carlton Leads Eagles
I’ve literally watched thousands of games
over the years. I have witnessed comeback
wins, last-minute losses and walk-off victories.
In all my years I have never witnessed a game
that meant so much to a team, its school and
one very special player. The game between the
Santa Monica Vikings and the Eagles filled
the gym to capacity. No, this wasn’t for a
league championship or a playoff berth. The
standing room-only crowd was there to see
Cameron Carlton play his first and last high
school basketball game.
To know Cameron Carlton is to love his
zest for helping others and his passion to play
basketball. According to Eagle head coach
David March, he knew Carlton had been cut
as a freshman by the coach before him. Carlton
tried out for the team his sophomore year, but
was clearly behind all the other players in both
skill and talent.
March said, “Cam’s passion and enthusiasm
showed every day of the three-day tryout. The
reality was I had to cut him along with 30 other
guys that year, which is always the hardest
part of the job.”
Shortly after the tryout, March attended a
football game with his two sons. He saw Cam
standing near the entrance, so he introduced
him to his kids. “We briefly talked about basketball
and you could see his passion for the
game and how genuine he was as a person,”
March said.
Coach March was looking for someone who
could bring the kind of character and enthusiasm
into the program that he was looking to
interject. He offered Cameron a position as the
cameraman to be a part of the team. “I knew
right away he not only needed somewhere to
belong, but the group needed someone to be
inspired by,” March explained. “He was great
his sophomore year and he never missed any
Number 32 Cam Carlton celebrates his big game and is surrounded by his friends Brian Carr, Kyle McMullin, Bailey Davis, Chance
Nelson and Kyle Delmondo.
games or practices. He ran film sessions and
he did any errands needed. He was the perfect
person for the job with his ability to be
genuinely unselfish.”
Cam tried out for the team as a junior and
again he was clearly behind the others and
unfortunately was cut again. March asked to
return to the videographer position and he
gladly accepted. Cam’s passion and dedication
showed and he attended each session of practice
and games during the fall, summer and spring.
March noted, “The best part was this team
really started to rally around him and the ‘family’
we talk about was starting to develop. We
end every huddle after practice with ‘1-2-3
family’ and Cam was truly in the middle of
making that a reality.”
Towards the end of that season, Cam had
mentioned to his coach about making the team
as a senior. March told him how difficult that
might be. Cam had asked if he didn’t make
the team would the coach consider playing him
in one game with his friends his senior year.
The word got out to the team and this real-life
Rudy story started to develop. March said, “As
this season developed, I knew he deserved the
opportunity to be showcased for the school to
see how special he really is.”
March kept thinking what he could do to
give Cam an opportunity to play. He told his
team that the final home game of the season
would be called “Cam Night.” The players really
rallied the student body and during “Senior
Night” they were chanting, “We Want Cam!”
Sensing that something special could materialize,
March started in on a plan to put the
most memorable night in motion. He worked
with the ASB, Ruthless Rooters and the cheerleaders
to see how big they could make Cam’s
Night a moment the Eagle senior would never
forget. He had tee-shirts made and worked
with the kids through social media to promote
Cam’s Night. It became a viral sensation and
the entire school was talking about it. The
cheerleaders made signs for the game and
there was a pizza party the day of the game
with the Ruthless Rooters to show Cam how
important he was. The choir brought singers
for the game to perform the National Anthem.
The tee- shirts were so popular that hundreds
of teachers, students and parents were asking
to get more. The screen printer donated 50
additional shirts just because he loved the
Cam Carlton hits his first of four three-pointers. He had a game-high 15 points.
See Sports, page 11