Memories go beyond basketball

There will be dozens of ex-players and a handful of former coaches at North Idaho College’s all-class men’s basketball reunion game Saturday. The story-telling about teammates, road trips, bad calls and thrilling wins will no doubt range from humorous to poignant to unbelievable.

Then there is Ezechiel Bambolo’s story. It is all of the above, and much more.

The abridged version is that he grew up in war-ravaged Liberia in West Africa and, at his parents’ urging, left to come to the Inland Northwest in 1991.

“My mom and dad said, ‘You’re our only chance to get out of here,’ ” Bambolo said. “That was my job to do, and I’m glad God gave me the opportunity to get it done.”

It isn’t a stretch to say the move might have saved his life and, eventually, his family. The conditions he left behind in Liberia were almost beyond description.

Civil War had gripped Liberia and the well-built Bambolo was routinely asked to join the rebel forces. He estimates “hundreds of thousands” lost their lives through genocide and other unseemly measures.

“My biggest fear coming here was that I was living in a place that I had no clue about,” Bambolo said, “and that I was going to get a letter that my whole family had been killed. Throughout the Civil War we were threatened.”

His host family, Marge and the late Lloyd Garrison, put him in touch with then-NIC coach Rolly Williams. Bambolo, known as “Bam,” was immediately tagged with the nickname “Zeke” by the veteran coach.

Bambolo played two years at NIC before transferring to Montana Tech, where he was all-academic, all-conference and all-American. He talked with his parents by phone about once a year, around Christmas. The only other communication was via mail – and delivery of the letters took 2-3 months, if at all.

At NIC, he became part of a bigger “team” from 1992-94.

“I could name people all day long,” Bambolo said. “I came from a culture where the town raised the child and NIC raised me. Mrs. (Donna) Runge, Mr. (Bob) Ely, Fred Ostermeyer. … everybody wrapped their arms around me when I came over and I look forward to seeing all those people.”

“I came to a great group of guys on the team – Tracey Evans, Lewis Lofton, Travis Stel. They helped me make the transition, along with Coach (Williams). He had a lot to do with it.”

In 1999, Bambolo married former NIC volleyball player Teena Fortin in a ceremony witnessed by his entire family. It was the first time Bambolo had seen his parents since leaving Liberia in 1991.

“We flew them all out in 1999 for the first time,” he said. “My mom and dad have lived with me now for a year and a half. My other siblings came over in 1999. My sister is in New York and my brothers are in Pocatello and Lynnwood (Wash.).”

Bambolo, who works for Nextel, is entering his first year as varsity boys basketball coach at Juanita High in Kirkland, Wash. The Rebels’ star player, Micah Downs, just signed with national power Kansas. Bambolo’s nickname, “Zeke,” obviously stuck. It’s how he’s identified on the Rebels’ Web site.

Bambolo said Liberia remains somewhat in unrest, but is “on track to be free.” He credits United Nations peace-keeping forces for providing stability but “there are still a lot of young men running around with guns, looting and committing crimes.”

Bambolo looks forward to seeing Williams, former teammates and old friends in Coeur d’Alene this weekend. He said NIC gave him a chance to succeed and it’s clear he’s spent his time after NIC giving back to those around him.

“NIC certainly gave me a launching pad to come and achieve what I have in my short time and especially for my family,” Bambolo said. “My family pretty much left our home with their hands in the air and AK47s in their backs. It gave us an opportunity for a second life.”