Basketball game provides a lesson in life

A Spectrum, by Greg Berberich

I recently attended the Palmer High School basketball games (my daughter plays on the jr. varsity and varsity teams). This story is about what took place in the boys' varsity game.

It was senior night for Palmer, the last home game of the season. It is a special night where they honor the senior basketball players and cheerleaders. They do a ceremony between the varsity boys' and girls' games, where they acknowledge each senior and ask their parents to come out on the floor and stand with their son or daughter. (Jan Houser's son, Adam, was one of the seniors acknowledged.) This always brings out a lot of emotion and there was a fair amount of crying as each senior was announced and acknowledged for their contribution to the program over the years.

However, not to take anything away from any of the other seniors, this night was exceptionally special because of one senior -- Troy Chapman. He is the manager of the boys' varsity team.

What makes Troy unique is he is battling with a life-threatening disease (cystic fibrosis). He has been in and out of the hospital throughout his high school career. But without knowing Troy, you would never guess his circumstance. He is full of life, laughter and is as likeable a kid as any parent could hope for. He asks for no special treatment, and is loved by everyone who knows him. This was very obvious as the night unfolded.

Palmer only has three boys on the varsity team who are seniors. So the varsity coach, Brandon Blake, asked Troy to suit up and play for Palmer on senior night.

This was something very unusual and something the whole student body obviously supported. All the kids came with faces painted with the number 12, Troy's number. As they acknowledged each senior during the senior ceremony, each received a hearty cheer. When Troy was acknowledged, the place went nuts.

Again, when the game started and the lineup was announced, it was Troy who brought the students, and now the adults, as the word about Troy spread throughout the crowd, out of their seats, cheering and shouting.

Troy started and played only a couple of minutes before he started coughing and had to be taken out of the game. Everyone gave him thunderous cheers and a standing ovation. It was a great moment and one I am sure Troy will cherish.

It was a fast-paced and close game until the fourth quarter, when Palmer started to pull away. As the clock wound down, the cheers begin to build. "Chapy! Chapy! Chapy!" shouted the cheerleaders and fans acknowledging Troy and urging the coach to put him back into the game. With two minutes to play and the game in hand, Coach Blake sent Troy to the scorers' table. The crowd came out of their seats.

The mission was to get Troy the ball and let him score. Now mind you, the opposing team did not understand what was going on and was not giving up. They still felt they were in the game and were battling with every possession.

Palmer ran a play, spreading the court, having Adam dribble to the middle, drawing the defense and then kicking it out to Troy. It went according to plan, only to see the ball sail through Troy's hands and out of bounds. The crowd groaned as the clock ticked down and the chance for Troy was dim. Palmer got the ball again, only to have it stolen. West scored quickly and Palmer, it seemed, had another chance to get the ball to Troy.

Palmer brought the ball in to Adam, only to be fouled quickly by West. You could see the frustration, agony and disappointment of Adam, the coach and players. I happened to look at Troy and he had a monster grin on his face. Troy was the only one in the whole building smiling.

I think he was in heaven and the attempts, it seemed, were good enough for him.

Well, there were about 15 seconds left and I could see Coach Blake telling one of his players to foul the other team and, after the foul shots, to try and give them one last chance to get Troy a shot.

Adam stepped to the free-throw line and made the first of two free throws. He shot the second and at that moment everything went into slow motion for me.

The shot was off and the rebound came off long and was grabbed by Palmer's Zach Pettit.

He looked to be driving to the hoop, only at the last second, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Troy five feet from the basket and made the pass.

Troy took the shot and time stood still as the ball hit the front of the rim and hung there for seemingly an eternity, before tipping over and falling through.

The stars were aligned, prayers were answered, and the moment everyone in that gym had hoped for was there.

It was Troy's moment and we all were lucky enough to share it. I will never forget the scene, as the place went crazy.

All the players, coaches, and fans gathered at center court, jumping up and down as if they had just won a state title, with Troy in the middle of the pandemonium, smiling like there was no tomorrow. It was surreal.

It was magic. It was a real moment of unbelievable joy. An outpouring of love, wrapped up in a basketball game, for a very special person. I felt so lucky to have been there.

As we drove home my daughter turned to me and said, "Dad, my face hurts 'cause I cannot stop smiling."

I told her mine hurt too. It felt great!

This Spectrum originally appeared as part of Matanuska Telephone Association General Manager Greg Berberich's regularly weekly e-mail to MTA staff and members of the community on March 11.