A special start on Senior Night
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dylan Hittle puts up a shot during the Badgers’ 62-27 win over visiting Stillwater Christian on Friday, Jan. 25. Hittle led Bonners Ferry with 17 points.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Seth Bateman.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Seth Bateman.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Matt Morgan.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Seth Bateman.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dylan Hittle.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Matt Morgan.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dylan Hittle.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Seth Bateman.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dylan Hittle.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Kameron Hill came back for a special senior night performance.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Kameron Hill and his family during senior night.
BONNERS FERRY — There was an emotional start to the boys basketball game last Friday, but the game ended with a decisive win for the Badgers.
After having issues with his knee, Bonners Ferry High School student Kameron Hill was diagnosed with an Osteosarcoma tumor last summer, resulting in having a tumor removed, a complete knee replacement, and 17 rounds of chemotherapy with a couple more treatments in the future.
Throughout the treatments and surgery, Hill was unable to play his senior year of basketball, but on Senior Night, he once again stepped out onto the court in the starting lineup and was able to make his signature shot — a 3-pointer from the corner — during the first portion of the game.
Hill has been playing basketball with his classmates since elementary school, and having him back out on the court was special for the teammates, coaches, school officials, and the audience, some of which had tears in their eyes.
“It was amazing to see Kameron on the floor again with his teammates. I don’t think you could plan that first play much better,” said Coach Andy Rice. “If you ever watched Kameron play, you knew that was his shot, corner three. We are extremely thankful to Stillwater Christian for also allowing Kameron to start his Senior Night game and take his shot.”
After topping Stillwater Christian 62-27 on Friday, the Badgers resume Intermountain League play this week, traveling to Kellogg tonight. The district tournament will be played at the league champion’s gym, instead of North Idaho College as in previous years.
“Senior night is always kind of bittersweet, our seniors had a great game, but it is also possibly the last time they get to play on our home court,” said Rice.
The Badgers (8-8 overall, 2-1 IML) are second in league and they need to win their next three league games in order to force a tie with first place Timberlake.
“If Timberlake loses a game to Kellogg or Priest River, and we win out, we are league champions and would host,” said Rice. “So we have a lot of work to do. I still believe we are one of the top teams in league and have a great shot at accomplishing our team goals this year.”
Dylan Hittle scored 17 points to lead the Badgers past the Cougars (7-8).
Still. Christian 9 7 8 3 -27
Bonners Ferry 25 21 13 3 -62
Stillwater Christian (7-8): Venman 5, Shawback 0, Sulybacher 9, Jimenez 0, Hooker 7, Thompson 0, Anderson 2, Drish 4.
Bonners Ferry (8-8): Bateman 13, Durrette 8, Foster 2, Hines 0, Hittle 17, Hubbard 2, Morgan 7, Petersen 6, Stockton 4, Hill 3.