JUDA - Loud cheering filled the Juda High School gymnasium Thursday as the first 2 points of the game were scored.
But it wasn't an ordinary game on Senior Night, because senior Justy Roth was on the court. Roth can normally be found on the sideline of district sports, either football or boys or girls basketball, as a student coach.
A self-proclaimed huge sports fan, Roth has been managing, taking video and coaching games since he was in sixth grade. That was the year he decided to begin playing basketball along with the other kids in his class. There was only one problem. Since infancy, Roth has dealt with brittle bone disease, or osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder which causes weak bones that break easily and other related symptoms. He has broken a number of bones throughout his life.
"I was about 1 or 2, I think, when they realized what it was," Roth said. "I tried to play basketball in middle school and that was one of my breaks. I tried to go too hard."
Roth started a layup during warmups but ended with a broken leg.
Though Roth is unable to play a rough game of basketball, that doesn't mean he can't be a starter on the night honoring senior members of the Juda boys team. At least that's what Juda Coach Kurtis Mansfield and previous coach James Pickett thought.
Mansfield said Pickett had the idea roughly two years ago, when he ordered a uniform for Roth. And while Roth is accustomed to keeping his team organized before a game after managing for seven years, Mansfield said the student coach has had to adjust to the idea of taking the court himself.
"He is very, very nervous," Mansfield said before the game began. "You know, he's always had to plan to get everybody else ready, not necessarily himself."
The game against Monticello started with a speech thanking the seniors. A banner photo near the gym entrance echoed the sentiment. Each player stood in a horizontal line behind Roth, who stood with his arms crossed and a whistle held in the corner of his mouth.
After singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," the players proceeded through the makeshift tunnel formed by coaches and teammates. Roth was the final player announced, cheers echoing throughout the space as he walked, accepting low-fives from his teammates.
Fellow senior Almanzo Friedly dribbled the ball to the right corner of the top of the key. A quick bounce pass to Roth and the ball went up to the hoop. Knocking the rim, it bounced up and away. But in the game of rebounds, Friedly was beneath the hoop to support his coach, who gladly took the ball and a second chance. Roth tossed the ball with precision to sink the close corner shot. The spectators nearly filling the gymnasium rose to their feet as players from both home and away teams paused to shake Roth's hand or pat him on the back. The rest of the team flooded the court, running to greet Roth in a large huddle.
Monticello Head Coach Mark Olson said in the network of local basketball, the camaraderie is like a fraternity, even if the teams are opponents, because they understand the preparation players and teams make during each season.
"We jumped at the chance," Olson said, noting his players thought it was "a neat idea" when they heard about the plan. "Even though we will be opponents tonight, we know all the hard work that goes into it."
Organizing the play came to a head Monday, when the team told Roth how Thursday's game would start. At the end of practice, they grouped up, and Mansfield presented Roth with a duffel bag and a white uniform displaying a purple No. 1, his to keep.
"It was fun, and I'm glad the guys did it for me," Roth said. "I truly think that I would not have gotten this seven-year experience and tonight's experience anywhere else. It's such a good community of people, and the basketball team especially has been just great this last seven years."
Wendy Roth, Justy's mother, said it was a surprise to her as well when he came home to share the news.
"We were a little nervous," Wendy said with a laugh.
Despite the nerves and knowing she would likely tear up watching her son on the court, Wendy said she was glad to see her son's excitement.
"It's all about him," she said. "He's so happy."
But it wasn't an ordinary game on Senior Night, because senior Justy Roth was on the court. Roth can normally be found on the sideline of district sports, either football or boys or girls basketball, as a student coach.
A self-proclaimed huge sports fan, Roth has been managing, taking video and coaching games since he was in sixth grade. That was the year he decided to begin playing basketball along with the other kids in his class. There was only one problem. Since infancy, Roth has dealt with brittle bone disease, or osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder which causes weak bones that break easily and other related symptoms. He has broken a number of bones throughout his life.
"I was about 1 or 2, I think, when they realized what it was," Roth said. "I tried to play basketball in middle school and that was one of my breaks. I tried to go too hard."
Roth started a layup during warmups but ended with a broken leg.
Though Roth is unable to play a rough game of basketball, that doesn't mean he can't be a starter on the night honoring senior members of the Juda boys team. At least that's what Juda Coach Kurtis Mansfield and previous coach James Pickett thought.
Mansfield said Pickett had the idea roughly two years ago, when he ordered a uniform for Roth. And while Roth is accustomed to keeping his team organized before a game after managing for seven years, Mansfield said the student coach has had to adjust to the idea of taking the court himself.
"He is very, very nervous," Mansfield said before the game began. "You know, he's always had to plan to get everybody else ready, not necessarily himself."
The game against Monticello started with a speech thanking the seniors. A banner photo near the gym entrance echoed the sentiment. Each player stood in a horizontal line behind Roth, who stood with his arms crossed and a whistle held in the corner of his mouth.
After singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," the players proceeded through the makeshift tunnel formed by coaches and teammates. Roth was the final player announced, cheers echoing throughout the space as he walked, accepting low-fives from his teammates.
Fellow senior Almanzo Friedly dribbled the ball to the right corner of the top of the key. A quick bounce pass to Roth and the ball went up to the hoop. Knocking the rim, it bounced up and away. But in the game of rebounds, Friedly was beneath the hoop to support his coach, who gladly took the ball and a second chance. Roth tossed the ball with precision to sink the close corner shot. The spectators nearly filling the gymnasium rose to their feet as players from both home and away teams paused to shake Roth's hand or pat him on the back. The rest of the team flooded the court, running to greet Roth in a large huddle.
Monticello Head Coach Mark Olson said in the network of local basketball, the camaraderie is like a fraternity, even if the teams are opponents, because they understand the preparation players and teams make during each season.
"We jumped at the chance," Olson said, noting his players thought it was "a neat idea" when they heard about the plan. "Even though we will be opponents tonight, we know all the hard work that goes into it."
Organizing the play came to a head Monday, when the team told Roth how Thursday's game would start. At the end of practice, they grouped up, and Mansfield presented Roth with a duffel bag and a white uniform displaying a purple No. 1, his to keep.
"It was fun, and I'm glad the guys did it for me," Roth said. "I truly think that I would not have gotten this seven-year experience and tonight's experience anywhere else. It's such a good community of people, and the basketball team especially has been just great this last seven years."
Wendy Roth, Justy's mother, said it was a surprise to her as well when he came home to share the news.
"We were a little nervous," Wendy said with a laugh.
Despite the nerves and knowing she would likely tear up watching her son on the court, Wendy said she was glad to see her son's excitement.
"It's all about him," she said. "He's so happy."