From ecstasy to fear and disbelief.
How many of us have dreamed of hitting the game winning shot?
I'd be willing to bet nearly every single person that visits this site.
Your dream sequence probably ends being carrried off on teammates shoulders, surrounded by a mass of students rushing the court.
For Wes Leonard, the game winning O.T. shot went from the hight of sports ecstasy to fear, disbelief and a stark reality reminiscent of Hank Gathers.
Please keep the Leonard family and the community of Fenville in your prayers today.
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/facebook_news/x2022445591/Fennville-bask…
This seems too "Hollywood-esque" to be a true story. Game winning shot in OT at the buzzer to preserve a perfect 20-0 season...only to collapse. This is terrible and my thoughts and prayers go out to the community of Fennville and the Leonard family today.
It also made national news: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=6180469
My heart goes out to his family and the Fennville community. Just tragic
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Hitting a buzzer beater and collapsing on the floor certainly would seem too "Hollywood-esque", but that's not what happened.
He scored a layup with 20 seconds left, the other team took the ball down the coury and missed their opportunity to tie it. So even though he scored the game winning basket, it wasn't as "Hollywood" as the media is making it out to be.
Still a sad story, just thought I'd clarify.
I am sure a lot of info will come out in the next few days, but my first thought is whether or not an AED was on site. I am a volunteer Red Cross instructor and the difference between having a defibrillator on hand and waiting 4-10 minutes for an ambulance often is the difference between life or death. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I hope that this kind of a story will convince every school or church with a gym to have an AED. Tragic story.
That's really really sad. First thing I read this morning. My prayers to the family and may God bless the family and his classmates.
Fennville is a community southwest of Grand Rapids. They have been hit (like many ) by these tough times. This basketball team, and Wes Leonard, brought hope and pride to the community. I'm not from Fennville but went to watch two great teams play last night. To see the final 3 pointer rim out and the Fennville fans to storm the court was a scene I will never forget. I couldn't tell who was down when it was apparent someone needed help but I am just in shock.
Please pray for the Leonard family and the entire Fennville community today. I cannot begin to describe the depths of my sorrow at this passing of a small-town icon. I didn't know Wes personally, but if you follow sports in West Michigan, you knew of him. He was the All-American kid that was bringing a community together.
saw it on Channel 8 this morning. I was floored.
Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, the community and team.
Hard to fathom what his family may be going through right now. Pray to give them strength.
thoughts and prayers to his family and friends...this is terrible. as much as I care about sports, its a shame that it takes events like this to keep it all in perspective...
So sad, prayers go out to the family and community. Stuff like this really makes me wonder if it was his time to go, doing what he loved -- the timing is just hard to fathom.
The Today show picked this up this morning too. They had a little 15 second mention of it during their national news round up about 30 minutes ago.
Such a sad story. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and community.
God this is just awful. Are we seeing more of these undiagnosed whatevers that kill young athletes in the last few years compared to before or is the news just better disemminated now?
:(:(:(
When I was a senior in high school in 99 we played Gibraltar Carlson in the first round of the football playoffs. I was on the kickoff return team for the opening kickoff, and for the first time all year we returned it for a touchdown. While sprinting downfield I started having chest pains and nearly lost consciousness. I played the rest of the game like that. After having chest pains the rest of the weekend I finally saw a doctor. I found out that I was born with a condition called wolfe-parkinson-white syndrome(WPW). Although it's not an extremely fatal condition, it can kill. I feel as though I got lucky.
As for the family of Wes Leonard, I will say that I know this isn't an easy time. However, everyones thoughts and prayers are with you. Although time will never fully heal your pain, it will be easier in time to look back on the fond memories of young Wes' life.
That's terrifying.
Wow. This is unbelievable. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
RIP Wes
What a hideously sad story.
Just wow...my thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and community.
The photos on the story's webpage really show the emotion...
Unbelievable sad, thoughts and prayers with that family and community
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/facebook_news/x2022445591/Fennville-bask…
and his school. What a shocking tragedy.
Will keep the whole community in my prayers. So sad.
How terrible. Thouughts and prayers for his family, team, and school.
I grew up in hamilton mi, about 10 min. away from fennville. also a small town. this is so sad. thoughts go out to the family and his friends. so sad!
R.I.P Wes