Fennville wins first home game

FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - The Fennville Blackhawks boy's basketball team won their first home game on Tuesday since Wes Leonard collapsed and died on the court earlier this year.

Fennville beat Lawton 51-43.

Wes collapsed after making a game-winning shot in March, leading the team to a perfect regular season. He died of sudden cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.

Sam Moorehead, for whom the gym in named, was there when Leonard collapsed after being hoisted into the air.

"When he came down I just froze like everybody else," said Moorehead.

Fennville basketball Coach Ryan Klingler spoke to 24 Hour News 8 on Tuesday about the game and how the team plans to remember Leonard, who would have been a senior this year.

Klingler said that the team and community want to "remember the great stuff about Wes -- the great person he was. ... We want to remember all those good characteristics."

There was not be a moment of silence for Leonard before the game. Instead, Klingler made a brief greeting that included an inspirational quote from Wes Leonard:

"To all the student athletes and fans, remember this quote from Wesley James Leonard: 'Keep working. You can only get better and never get down on yourself.'"

Despite his effort to remain positive, Klingler did get emotional during the greeting.

There was another Leonard at the game on Tuesday. Wes' brother, Mitchell, is a freshman. He played, but did not start the game.

Wes's parents Gary and Jocelyn were both at the game, though it was originally reported that Wes's father would not attend because he was too emotional.

Since the death of Wes, the Leonard family has become proponents of ensuring that all schools have an adequate number of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). Fennville High School now has five AEDs on the premises.

Klingler said that the team now ensures that any school they play at has an AED -- not just for Fennville players, but also for other schools' students.

Since Wes' death, his family created The Wes Leonard Heart Team as a way to get defibrillators into every school in the state.

Since June 1, the Wes Leonard Heart Team has donated 12 AEDs and certified 144 people in CPR.

"We want to give everybody else a chance and that's what our mission is," said Maria Flores of the Wes Leonard Heart Team.

Wes Leonard will be honored at two more games this season.

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Fennville's boy's basketball season schedule