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Story Publication logo November 12, 2024

Don’t Count Them Out: The Impact of Basketball on the Youth of Cairo, Illinois

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One of the positive things that Cairo citizens can look forward to is basketball.

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Domarion Nunez and Kevin Robinson walk toward town on April 26, 2024, in Cairo, Illinois. Many kids who are growing up in communities that suffer from limited resources are also growing up in communities that have higher crime rates, making it pivotal for them to have positive outlets—like basketball. Cairo faces many obstacles, including population decline, housing disparity, poverty, and lack of government funding. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

The maroon bleachers. The polished wooden basketball court. The white walls that echo the sounds of squeaky basketball shoes. The Cairo Pilots have been here before. A few months prior, in fact, they took third in the Appleknocker Holiday Tournament, an annual competition of southern Illinois basketball teams in Cobden, another rural town about 40 miles north of where Cairo sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

It’s February and the Pilots are back in Cobden hoping for a title in the regional tournament. For Domarion Nunez and Kevin Robinson, the team’s only two Pilot seniors, a lot is on the line. This could be the last time they lace up their sneakers and run through a tunnel of their teammates as the lineup is called, the final chapter in a formative season of their lives. They have a big challenge: The No. 1 seeded Goreville Blackcats, a team with a record of 32 wins and only three losses. A height comparison between the teams resembles the biblical battle between David and Goliath. Goreville has eight players listed at least 6 feet tall, with the tallest two measuring 6 feet 6 and 6 feet 7. They tower over Cairo’s players, only two of whom are 6 feet tall.

“We don’t have the depth, we don’t have the height, but we have the heart,” said Steven Tarver, a school board member and Pilots basketball historian.


Domarion Nunez fights for a rebound during a game against the Zeigler-Royalton Tornadoes on December 29, 2023. Despite being undersized, the Cairo Pilots won the game 89-50, placing third in the Apple Knocker Holiday Tournament. Nunez said the Pilots viewed their height disadvantage as a positive. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

“We’re a smaller team so being fast is always a strength … the other teams we’re going against, they’re not just going to lay down and let us get a win,” he said.

The Cairo Pilots are heavy underdogs heading into the game. But being the underdog isn’t anything new to this basketball program and being counted out isn’t anything new to Domarion and Kevin. 

A town called Cairo; a tradition of basketball

Cairo is Illinois’ southernmost city — a small town with a population around 1,600 located minutes from Kentucky and Missouri. A hotspot for river trades in the 1800s, the city developed quickly, causing a growth in businesses and population, peaking in population around 1920.


Domarion Nunez and Kevin Robinson sit across from the Connell F. Smith Sr. Building. Behind the flood  wall is the river where the Ohio and Mississippi river meet. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States, 2024.

The eventual decline of river trading and the increase in railroad trading struck the city economically. River flooding became an environmental problem and the town faced decades of racial tension and violence causing businesses to close and residents to move away. 

A housing crisis reached a head in 2017. When the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the demolition of two major housing complexes, it also contributed greatly to population decline. 

 But the game endures, a reflection of the town’s grit-and-grind culture. 


Domarion Nunez stands in front of Connell F. Smith Sr. Building in Cairo, Illinois, on April 26, 2024. The building was one of the three public housing complexes in town that HUD closed. The closing forced many families to move out of town, contributing to population decline in Cairo. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States, 2024.

On nearly every street, you’ll find a basketball goal—some new with bright white nets, others weathered, some with no nets, others with no backboards.

This is a basketball town.

The trophies tell the story—hundreds of them: Cairo’s school boasts so many trophies that they spill out into the hallways, library, and classrooms. They overflow into other buildings across town. They are for basketball, track, baseball, and several other sports, but mainly basketball, Cairo’s crown sport.

In 1981 and 1993, the Cairo High School basketball team placed third at the Illinois High School Sports Association (IHSA) State Championship. In 2003, the Pilots finished fourth in the state championship. Some, like local legend Tyrone Nesby, made it to the NBA. Lorenzo Duncan was drafted to the NBA in 1986 and the Taylor brothers are the school’s all-time-scoring record holders and were a part of the last teams to lead the Pilots to a competitive state run in 2016 and 2017.


Jeserick Pilgram rises up for a dunk, while his teammates jump along with him, in a pregame tradition on December 29, 2023, in Cobden, Illinois. Pilgram was the team’s No. 1 scorer throughout the season, providing athleticism and height. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

Yet, despite being a town known for developing some of the best talent in the state, Cairo has struggled to keep players through high school. Many families and players choose to transfer to bigger schools for better exposure and more resources. Tarver, the school board member and longtime Cairo resident, has seen the change firsthand. 

Cairo is considered an independent school and due to this they cannot compete for a conference title. Every season, the athletic director goes out and finds games and tournaments for the basketball team to play in. 

“One of the obstacles we have is exposure. We have some very great athletes in our community but we are not in a league or any of the conferences,” Tarver said.


The old downtown strip in Cairo, Illinois, on April 26, 2024. The once lively downtown is filled with rusted signs and empty buildings, most notably The Gem Theatre, which opened in 1910 and closed in 1978. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

The Pilot Standard

The Pilots know their Cairo basketball history and that they should expect to win, even if the competition is stiff. Pilot’s coach Josh Baldwin, who graduated from Cairo High in 2008, played for the Pilots. Now, he’s tasked with leading the basketball team back to greatness, to the highest standard: The Pilot Standard. 

“I was a part of it … I watched it as a kid being built, and I got to participate. And it’s a certain level of expectation, it’s a certain level of competition … what I’m trying to do is bring the competitiveness back, the intensity back, the importance back,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin also recognizes that winning isn’t everything for these kids. What the game of basketball itself can do for them is more important. Many kids who are growing up in communities that suffer from limited resources are also growing up in communities that have higher crime rates, making it pivotal for them to have positive outlets—like basketball.


Coach Josh Baldwin speaks to the team moments before heading out for their regional semifinal playoff game against No. 1 seed Goreville Blackcats on February 19, 2024. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

“I think having extracurricular activities can keep a lot of kids safe, keep them out of making bad decisions, and have them around more positive people,” Baldwin said. 

Baldwin hopes to take the basketball team back to the “glory days,” but knows providing a good role model for students is more important. 

Throughout his first season as head coach he faced numerous obstacles. Coaching a young, undersized team, which consisted of mostly underclassmen, was challenging, but one of the biggest challenges was becoming head coach in the middle of the season. 


Domarion Nunez and his teammates play a game of “Shadow Boxing” while waiting in line for breakfast at McDonald's on January 25, 2024, in Effingham, Illinois. The team grabbed breakfast in Effingham on the way to their game in Indianapolis. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States, 2024.

“It was difficult, trying to find my voice when the kids were used to another coach’s voice for so long ... difficult for me to find my coaching style, I didn’t have anyone to learn from and I didn’t have any support,” Baldwin said.


Baldwin coached junior varsity, varsity, and sometimes freshman basketball games all in one night. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States, 2024.

“It takes a lot out of you ... the adjustments, trying to keep everyone focused, controlling the bench, dealing with referees ... it is hard to do by yourself.”

At Cairo Junior/Senior High School, the basketball team loaded onto the bus to take a five-hour ride to Indianapolis for a basketball game on January 24, 2024. The team played their crosstown rivals, Meridian, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Later that evening they attended an NBA game that featured the Indiana Pacers and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Despite challenges, the students gravitated toward Baldwin.

I didn’t expect them to want to be around me, to want my attention as much. A lot of these kids don’t have positive role models, that’s part of it. I feel like, as much as I can try to get them to see a parallel from the basketball court to real life, as much as I can do that, I feel like the better they would be … And I just want to be an advocate for them, to let them know there’s people here that do care about you,” he said.

The seniors 

Domarion Nunez didn’t start playing basketball until eighth grade.

“Whenever I first started playing basketball, I would often get frustrated and, you know, try to quit and give up. But I was like, if there’s something that I really want, and I really want to do, I gotta fight through the tough times to get better. I have to fight through, you know, not having nobody to really try to help me and train me,” Nunez said.

By his junior year, Nunez had become a top scorer for the team. His breakout game came against Crab Orchard, which happened to be the No. 1 seed in the conference that year. During that game, he led the team in scoring with 27 points. Despite those efforts, the team still fell short. 


Domarion Nunez listens to the coach inside a team huddle during a timeout on January 6, 2024, in Elverado, Illinois. The basketball team went on to win the game, 65-49. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

As a senior, Nunez took on a leadership role on and off the court. Nunez has lived in Cairo his entire life and seen the reference to it as a “dying town,” but he refuses to be limited by those characterizations. 

In 2022, he started his own car detailing business, became a school officer, and joined the Beta Club, in addition to his role on the basketball team, all while preparing to graduate from high school. Basketball aside, Nunez stands out among his peers in everyday life, a quality his coach recognized and praised. 

“He’s pretty mature to be 17. He got a good perspective on life. He’s already started a business, he’s got flyers, business cards … his future is just as bright as any other kid because he knows that he wants more for himself,” Baldwin said.


Domarion Nunez rinses the tires of a school bus during the Senior Class of 2024 Car Wash on April 26, 2024. The car wash was a fundraiser that the seniors hosted to help pay for their class trip. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

One of the biggest shocks for Robinson after moving to Cairo was the sports culture. Growing up in North Carolina, he played football. But once he moved to Cairo, Robinson realized that there wasn’t an active football program. The football program, which had existed for 80 years, closed down in 2006 due to the limited number of available players.


Kevin Robinson stands across from Southern Medical Center on April 26, 2024m in Cairo, Illinois. The medical center was shut down in 1986. The town has been without a local hospital since, putting residents at risk in the case of a medical emergency. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

“Over the many years basketball has become the only sport that’s really been concentrated on in our community … because of enrollment we don’t have a large-enough student population to do football. … Basketball is 100 percent [Cairo], our kids know, play, eat, drink, sleep basketball, and it’s been generations and generations,” Tarver said. 


Domarion Nunez watches as his teammates play a game of pickup basketball on April 26, 2024. Basketball often becomes the outlet for children escaping the struggles of everyday life. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

Since he couldn’t play football, Robinson quickly began playing basketball in Cairo, a challenge that he was ready to meet.

“It’s good to have the youth playing basketball, keep them out of trouble and everything, but giving them something to do … of course it can still happen but that’s what everyone’s trying to do,” Robinson said.

“The community really comes together … we really emphasize basketball down here because it’s something positive to do … it always keeps our youth engaged in something so they won’t fall into the traps of a small city,” Nunez said.

The final whistle 

Sweat runs down the faces of the Pilot players; exhaustion can be seen in their eyes. There is a silence from the bench that shows reality is beginning to set in. As the clock winds down to zero, cheers and claps begin to erupt from behind the Cairo crowd. It’s the grandmothers, parents, siblings, and community members applauding the team. The scoreboard reads 97-65. Goreville wins.

Despite coming up short in that February regional semifinal game, Cairo still shows its appreciation. The cheers were not meant for a winning team, but for any team wearing the Pilots' jersey.


For Domarion Nunez and Kevin Robinson, the buzzer had gone off in their final game as Cairo Pilots. They won’t go on to play basketball on the collegiate level or make it to the NBA, but that was never the point. Nunez is shown speaking to his team during their game against the Meridian Bobcats on January 25, 2024, in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nunez was considered a leader throughout the basketball season. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

“Becoming a school officer, joining National Honor Society, joining the Beta Club, and competing with people all across the state of Illinois in chemistry and physics competitions” are among Nunez’s favorite memories. He graduated in May, the school’s valedictorian.

Nunez is on his way. He has now become a solar electrician and his detailing business is taking off. He recently purchased his own equipment—an upgrade from the local car wash vacuums. He has high hopes for his detailing business, hoping to grow it to where he can expand it and increase opportunities for himself and provide jobs in his community. 

“I feel like my purpose in life is really to help others … A lot of people think their purpose is different things. But I feel like we should all fall into the category of helping others because if we all help each other, we can all reach our goals,” he said.


Kevin Robinson walks through the school hallway on his way to the library on May 15, 2024, at Cairo Junior/Senior High School. Robinson plans to attend college and get his CDL license. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

Robinson credits sports for having a big impact on his experience and helping him create connections. 

“In the future,” Robinson said, “I want to go to Shawnee Community College, to their trucking program to get my CDL license to drive trucks. I want to get certified in a bunch of different things … not limiting myself to one thing” — a drive that he credits his father for inspiring.

In 10-15 years he’d love to retire his parents. That’s all I really care about ... making sure my people straight, my household family,” he said.


The 17 members of the Cairo Senior High School graduating class of 2024 stand during their graduation ceremony on May 18, 2024, in Cairo, Illinois. Domarion Nunez was the class valedictorian. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States, 2024.

Baldwin is looking ahead toward his second year of coaching, building the team back to a culture of winning. Baldwin said that after Nunez and Robinson graduated, the team lost two of their toughest players and he’s still looking to fill the hole. The team has gotten better physically, spending more time in the weight room and conditioning. 

“We are small so we have to be able to play faster and longer than other teams that are bigger or have more players than us,” he said.

The future is bright for Cairo basketball. Last season the junior high basketball team won its regional championship and went to the Class S State Tournament, being led by Anthony Duncan Jr. and Rahjon Woodson, possibly the next two great players to come out of Cairo. 

The future is looking up for the city, too—in August a 3-D printer started building single-family homes in town in hopes of building back some of what has been lost. This past summer, a new grocery store, the Rise Community Market, opened. It is the only store that sells fresh produce. 

Baldwin feels that the town is headed in the right direction. 

“We making some strides, some positive changes ... we got some people here that are really fighting for this community ... for these kids,” he said.

“I tell people, if you can make it here, I feel like you can make it anywhere,” Baldwin said.


Kevin Robinson and Domarion Nunez hold their high school diplomas on May 18, 2024, in Cairo, Illinois. Robinson and Nunez were the only two seniors on the basketball team and were a big part in helping Coach Baldwin throughout the season. “I see Domarion and Kevin doing great things, I really do … They helped me navigate through some difficult things I’ve faced during the season … I leaned on them a lot as the only two seniors on the team,” he said. Image by Simeon Hardley. United States.

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