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Troy
Myers and Devon Eley exchange hugs and then a smile as Myers
awarded Eley the game ball
Friday after the Jets 55-31 Cross County
Conference victory over Arcanum. Eley was awarded the game
ball as he
scored the last two points of the game and the only two points of his
career.
CNO Photos by Dylan Knoop
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A dream comes true for FM senior
Eley: I’m both honored and humbled
By George Starks
PITSBURG - Since the day he was born, Devon Eley would never experience
what most of us take for granted.
Born with Spina Bifida, Eley would never know what it would be like to
run or even walk, let alone play in a basketball game. He had the
clubbed feet and a broken femur in his leg and was in a cast for six
weeks. Not the way the majority of people starts out in life.
Being a part of Franklin Monroe basketball since he was in the seventh
grade, the Jet senior has always been the team’s equipment manager.
Friday, with less than one minute to play, Eley’s long awaited moment
finally came. Myers called time and put Eley into the game, replacing
junior Marcus Horner.
At mid-court, the ball went into play and the pass was made to the
right block where Eley, with one crutch, was located.
Eley put up a shot that fell well short of its mark. Without
hesitation, Eley got his own rebound, turned and fired again. The
second shot found the bottom of the net and for the first time in his
life, Eley was more than the team manager.
He was in the record books as a player, scoring the last two points of
the game.
With a smile that could have lit up Darke County, Eley was the happiest
player in the county.
“I came off the bench knowing I didn’t want to miss a shot and that’s
what the coach was telling me,” said Eley. “I’m honored and humbled. I
want to thank the coach, the coaching staff and the basketball teams
for making this night special. I am so happy.”
When Eley checked in to the game, wearing number 52, everyone stood and
applauded, including the visiting fans from Arcanum.
“I really want to thank the fans,” Eley stated. “This is a friendly
rivalry. It was just great for me to be able to come out here and play
with my team. I will remember this night forever. It’s something that
can’t be taken away. I love the game and I love this school but mostly,
I love my team.”
When FM coach Troy Myers told Eley he was going to dress for the game,
it took the long time team manager by surprise.
“I wasn’t sure what to think right away. I took a minute for the
realization to come to me,” admitted Eley. “This is something you dream
of and I’ve dreamed about it for many, many years. Just getting the
chance was special. All the coach said to was, ‘We’d like for you to
dress for the game and get into the game in front of a big crowd. These
are people we all know on both sides of the floor. So in my mind, I
just couldn’t believe it. It was hard to put words to it.”
After the final buzzer had sounded, Eley was given one more surprise.
Myers awarded Eley the game ball.
“Getting the game ball was truly incredible,” said Eley. “I’m truly
honored and blessed to be a part of such a great community. Coach Myers
has always said, it’s not about the stats but what you can give to the
team. Tonight, I got the chance to go out and give a little bit to this
team.”
While Eley was lifted to a higher level being able to contribute to his
team, there was another person that was on a higher cloud as well.
That being his mother, Heather.
“This night was just amazing,” said Heather. “Devon is a huge supporter
of Franklin Monroe basketball and for his coach and teammates to do
this for him means the world to him. He would do anything to be out
there playing with the team.”
When Heather saw her son check in, she could not contain herself.
“I was very emotional and I was crying when he went to the scorer’s
table,” said Eley’s mother. “I know he wants to be out there and it
just meant a lot to him. He loves these guys and would do anything for
them and I think the feeling is mutual. The team has always been here
to support him and we appreciate them doing this for him.”
Like most parents, Heather was the last one to know.
“I never knew he was going to dress tonight until I saw him come out of
the locker room with a uniform on,” Heather remarked. “The team never
knew until tonight and I’ll admit, I was shocked. Then I thought, ‘Oh
my gosh, I think he’s going to get in tonight’. This is something he’s
dreamed of for years and tonight, he was able to play with his team on
this floor.”
Heather spoke of her pride she has in her son
“What he accomplishes in a day amazes me,” she said. “It makes me think
that my life and my aches and pains are not that bad. To see what he
goes through just inspires me.”
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