Hart will never be forgotten
Kevin Hart may have passed away a week ago, but his presence was felt Friday night at Greene Central's 88-85 win against Goldsboro.
Up until his tragic, untimely death last Sunday on his 36th birthday of a heart attack, the GC assistant coach (and former head coach) had inspired groups of Rams and young people for several years.
Just because Hart wasn't physically at the game Friday night didn't mean his spirit wasn't there.
Senior center Brandon Sutton could hear Hart's voice when he was at the free throw line. Thanks to the advice he remembered Hart giving him ("Bend your knees and square up with the goal"), Sutton hit six of the eight free throws he attempted in the fourth quarter.
When Sutton, Reggie Jones, Chevalier Howell and Curt Braswell were leading the Rams back from a 14-point deficit, they could feel Hart's spirit pushing them up and down the court at breakneck speed.
"We were starting to fall apart, so we needed to come back," Jones said. "We put Coach Hart in the top of our head and made him our focus and it worked."
But Hart's gentle spirit was most felt by GC head coach - and one of Hart's best friends and pallbearers - Robert Browning. Browning was the chief assistant for two years to Hart during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons when Hart led the Rams.
"Most of the time, when we get behind, I get frustrated and upset with the guys," Browning said. "I could just feel Kevin's presence there tonight to keep me calm."
Hart got out of coaching for a year so he could focus on his contracting business. But he missed it so bad he had to come back. Browning made it a point to keep Hart's competitive juices flowing.
"I took him a schedule every day for about 30 days and he wouldn't give me an answer," Browning said with glistening eyes. "He finally said, 'OK, I'll help you coach.' Every offensive play we run came from Kevin Hart. He's such a huge influence on my life and on our team, it's incredible."
Browning was his usual emotional self during the game, but when the game was over - and GC escaped with the come-from-behind victory over the preseason conference favorite Cougars to improve to 4-0 in the league - the tears flowed from the coach.
He wasn't the only one. When the game ended, every member of the team raised a forefinger to the heavens so every fan in attendance clearly understood that this win was for their fallen coach. There were a lot of wet eyes in the stands, too.
And somewhere in heaven, Kevin Hart smiled. He knew this win was for him.
Bryan C. Hanks' column appears every Sunday in The Free Press. You can reach him at (252) 527-3191, Ext. 250, or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out his blog at http://bhanks.encblogs.com.
