In many ways, basketball saved James Perez's life. As a teenager, he was headed down a dark path until his coach, Dan Moore, pulled him into the light. James would live with Dan on and off throughout high school. Dan would call James his son.
Two decades years later, James is assistant basketball coach for Dan. When James had a daughter of his own, she would become a little basketball star herself. James' daughter Elli Perez became a fixture on the team. Elli would sit in and the father and daughter would discuss each game.
But in October of last year, Elli's life was tragically taken in a house fire that also killed her mother and her step-family. When the team heard the news of James' unbearable pain, they knew they had to bring some kind of comfort to the grieving father.
So Dan created a basketball jersey with her name on it.
"I don't know if this is appropriate or not," Dan said. "I don't know if you appreciate it, but I want you to know that… you are part of our team, and so is she."
Now her favorite player wears it, and it travels to each and every game. For good luck, they tuck the jersey onto a chair and each member pats it as they run out on the court.
There is no proper way to cope with the loss of a child, but this team is doing its best to keep her memory alive one game at a time.
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