FARMINGTON -- A gesture of goodwill and sportsmanship brought tears to the eyes of Monica Vanzant, mother of Farmington star guard Makenna Vanzant.
Makenna, who recently returned to basketball after a life-threatening illness that caused her to spend 16 days at Arkansas Children's Hospital at Little Rock, was presented with a dozen roses, candy, and a card by Pea Ridge players prior to the tip-off of Friday's girls basketball game between Farmington and Pea Ridge at Farmington's Cardinal Arena.
2017 Tony Chachere’s Classic
Cardinal Arena
Thursday
GIRLS: Huntsville 46, Pea Ridge 34
BOYS: Huntsville 64, Fort Smith Future 30
GIRLS: Farmington 51, Harding Academy 43
BOYS: Harding Academy 59, Farmington 47
Friday
GIRLS: Huntsville 46, Harding Academy 33
BOYS: Harding Academy 40, Huntsville 29
GIRLS: Farmington 74, Pea Ridge 34
BOYS: Farmington 78, Fort Smith Future School 49
Saturday
GIRLS: Pea Ridge 52, Harding Academy 45
GIRLS: Farmington 49, Huntsville 28
BOYS: Farmington 41, Huntsville 37
"It was one of the classiest things I've ever seen done in basketball," said Farmington coach Brad Johnson, explaining Pea Ridge coach Heath Neal phoned him the day before and said his girls wanted to do something to demonstrate their support for Makenna, who battled Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome or HUS in October.
HUS is a condition caused by the abnormal destruction of red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells clog the filtering system in the kidneys, which can lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Makenna's diagnosis was originally very grim. Doctors questioned whether she would come out of ICU alive, yet Makenna miraculously recovered and has returned to the Lady Cardinal lineup.
"Coach Neal asked if it would be appropriate to do it and I said 'absolutely,'" Johnson said. "It's the ultimate good deed. For me, it was such a special moment. Basketball is an extended family. When someone hurts, we all hurt. It's a moment I'll never forget. I'll never be able to thank him enough."
Monica Vanzant, who maintained a constant vigil by her daughter's side throughout the ordeal was moved to tears.
"I just cried for about two minutes," Monica Vanzant said.
Once the game got started Farmington ran away from Pea Ridge, 74-34, in a second-round game of the 2017 Tony Chachere tournament at Cardinal Arena. Madisyn Pense and Makenna Vanzant hit 3-pointers to help Farmington jump out to a 28-13 lead after the first quarter. With the half winding down forward Alexis Roach scored three straight times to help Farmington assume a commanding 54-23 lead. Pense led all scorers with 26 points and Makenna Vanzant had 12 for Farmington. Hollyn Davis scored 10 to lead Pea Ridge (1-4).
Farmington 74, Pea Ridge 34
Pea Ridge^13^10^8^3^--^34
Farmington^28^26^17^3^--^74
Pea Ridge (1-4): Hollyn Davis 10, West 7, Mitchell 5, Swope 3, Hooten 3, Adams 2, Olson 2, Socha 2.
Farmington (5-1): Madisyn Pense 26, Makenna Vanzant 12, Alexis Roach 11, Camryn Journagan 11, Joelle Tidwell 8, Taylor 4, Madison Parsley 2.
Sports on 12/13/2017