As medics wheeled away Heather Cox on Feb. 7, basketball’s place in the grand scheme became clear.

T-O boys coach Ron Cox, Heather’s father, turned over control of his boys team to accompany his injured daughter to the emergency center in Colfax. Gratefully, Cox’s scary collision and fall right before halftime against St. John-Endicott resulted in nothing but a sore neck.

Three days of massage therapy completed, Cox returned to help T-O to the Whitman County League Tournament title over St. John-Endicott. Cox also scored 40 points during the first two games of the District 9-B Tournament. The Nighthawks (21-3) play SJE (20-4) Friday for the No. 1 berth to state.

Last year, Cox played too well to stay on junior varsity. She drew her first start before the league tourney.

“I was really nervous,” Cox said. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think I’d get to play much.”

“We had five seniors last year, so it was hard to get her in at the beginning,” said T-O coach Mark Stinson. “But by the end of the year we were getting her the ball.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo