Teen who battled brain tumor returns to basketball court

WHEATFIELD, Ind. (AP) - Two years ago, after a brain tumor looked like it ended her basketball career, Cassie Cleveland never imagined she'd get back on the court.

On Tuesday night, she did -- if only for a couple of plays.

The Kankakee Valley senior made her only shot in a 61-50 victory over Hebron, entering and leaving the game to huge ovations.

"It was awesome," the 17-year-old said, still revved up a couple hours after her big moment. "We've never had this many fans at the game before."

During pregame, though, it was like nothing had changed since Cleveland starred for the junior varsity team as a freshman in 2011. She warmed up with her teammates, wearing Lady Kougar white-and-red and making every layup she attempted. She was introduced as a member of the starting lineup -- in the Chicago Bulls-like opening ceremony, she went last and received the loudest ovation. She scored her team's first two points.

But a lot had transpired off the court since Cleveland's freshman year. After suffering migraines and eventually losing her ability to see in 2012, she was diagnosed with an optical tumor. Because of its location, doctors couldn't remove it without putting her eyesight at risk. It robbed her of her pituitary, thyroid and adrenal functioning.

She tried to return to athletics, but her body just wouldn't allow it. The steroids she took to treat the tumor caused her to gain 100 pounds. A positive attitude kept her fighting.

"She was better than I was," s her mother, Dana, told The Times in Munster (http://bit.ly/1zfqag8 ). "She kept all of us up. She was: 'This is going to be fine.' It was unbelievable."

Head coach Ryan Myers was talking to his wife about Cleveland a few months back when she suggested he have the teen play on senior night. Would that even be possible? he wondered.

"We knew the odds were long the doctors would let her take part in this," he said.

But after initially being against it, her physicians at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis signed off on Cleveland playing for just a few minutes.

Her coaches and family members kept it all secret until two weeks ago, when Cleveland returned from a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World. Cleveland chose that location because her little sister had always wanted to go.

"When she came back from Florida, I told her what we were looking at," her coach recalled. "She immediately started bawling."

Coaches and trainers set out to get her back in playing shape. She ran on the treadmill. She practiced her shot incessantly.

Cleveland overcame a lot not just to get back on the court, but also the classroom. Despite missing a year of school because of health issues, she is set to graduate on time, in the top third of her class, and has already been accepted at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Inspired by the compassionate professionals who cared for her, she plans to become a nurse.

Even after her playing career ended, Cleveland could still be found courtside during many Lady Kougar games. She has been a team manager of sorts, cheering her team on from the sidelines and assisting her coach with youth summer camps. She even cut down the nets when Kankakee Valley won last year at sectionals.

Following the opening buzzer Tuesday, Hebron won the tipoff then missed the first shot. The Lady Kougars charged back the other way. A Kankakee Valley girl threw a pass to Cleveland, but a Hawks player knocked it out of play. On the inbounds, Cleveland got another opportunity -- and didn't miss, laying it up into the left side of the basket.

Myers called a timeout. Cleveland returned to the bench amid a chorus of cheers, crying and hugging her teammates. The visitors' section gave her a standing ovation.

Her teammates, wiping their eyes, had to compose themselves in a hurry as the next play started just seconds later.

The game, especially in the second half, was never really close. Near the end, with the Lady Kougars up by double digits, some fans started pining for Cleveland to be brought back into the game. But her job was done. In the postgame announcements, her two points received the loudest applause. Her teammate, and cousin, Raegan Walther, scored 26.

"We definitely wanted to play well for her because this means a lot to her," said Walther, a sophomore. "It gave us a lot of motivation. It brought in a lot of fans. Everyone was excited."

Cleveland might not be able to play for the Lady Kougars her senior year, but one thing is certain: They are playing for her.

After the game, an announcer read aloud a letter Cleveland wrote to her teammates. It ended:

"Enough of the sad stuff. Let's go kick some butt in sectionals!"

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com