Blanock’s return inspires Canon-McMillan
After a year of fighting Ewingís sarcoma cancer, Luke Blanock beat the cancer and returned to play with his Canon-McMillan basketball team. A year ago Blanock was diagnosed and told he wouldn’t return to sports. Blanock started in Friday night’s game against Burgettstown.
Canon-McMillan’s Beachy Britton scores two points for the Big Macs while Burgettstown’s Logan Triebsch defends during the first half Friday night.
CANONSBURG – Canon-McMillan’s boys basketball team circled around senior Luke Blanock near a stairwell. They said a prayer, congratulated Blanock and ran onto the court for their season opener Friday night against Burgettstown.
One year ago from Friday night, Blanock was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma after he had surgery to remove a mass from his lower spine. A scene that was grim 12 months ago was now filled with optimism and excitement.
Blanock was the final player announced in the starting lineup and the crowd delivered him a warm welcome. After one year of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the player who inspired the Big Macs last season was finally able to wear his No. 15 jersey and join his teammates on the basketball court.
The energy carried over into the game.
Senior guard Sam Bohn scored a game-high 14 points as Canon-McMillan defeated Burgettstown, 77-32, at the C-M tip-off tournament.
When asked what the moment was like when he was able to join his teammates, Blanock’s eyes lit up.
“Every single one of my coaches have asked me the exact same question, and I can’t find any way to describe it other than it just feels right,” Blanock said. “It feels amazing. It feels like where I am supposed to be.”
The Big Macs (1-0) built a 29-point lead at the half behind a balanced scoring attack. C-M had four players reach double digits – Bohn, senior Alex Hammers (10 points), sophomore Britton Beachy (11) and sophomore Carson Miller (11).
With a 12-man rotation, Canon-McMillan scored early and often, but its defense in the opening minutes was suspect. Burgettstown senior guard Hunter Lecker hit two three-pointers in the first quarter after the Big Macs took too long to get back defensively.
“We came out with way too much energy. We were going so hard on offense,” Hammers said. “We were supposed to be pressing and we forgot to press. We would hit shots and get so into it that we would zone out.”
The Blue Devils (0-1) trailed by only nine points after the first quarter, but were outscored 25-5 in the second quarter and lost sophomore Cole LaRocka to an ankle injury late in the third.
Blanock had to wait a while for his first varsity basket, but it came in with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter when Hammers missed a layup, Beachy grabbed the rebound and passed to Blanock, who made an uncontested three-pointer.
“I have to thank Hammers for missing that layup,” Blanock said with a smirk. “That was my first varsity field goal so it’s not like I’ve experienced it before. I have nothing to compare it to. With the fan support, it is something I’ll never forget.”
Bohn scored five points in the third quarter as the Big Macs pulled away for the win. Despite winning by 45 points, C-M head coach Rick Bell saw room for improvement.
“I thought we played well offensively, but we kind of feel like we can do that,” Canon-McMillan head coach Rick Bell said. “We have a lot of weapons offensively. We were playing a lot faster than we did last year because we have the numbers to do so. I thought we had some defensive letdowns, but with the emotions and everything, we are 1-0.”
Though Blanock was unable to play last season, he was never too far away. Often wearing a blue and gold stocking cap with the Big Macs’ logo in front, Blanock had a seat waiting for him on the sideline during games.
Now, he’s ditching the cap for a jersey and shorts. His teammates would not have it any other way.
“It was emotional. Before the game, I was talking with him a lot,” Hammers said. “We got here at 4:30 to shoot around. Four months ago, he could barely make it two minutes on the court and now he lifts more than he did before cancer. To see him get the jitters and to be an everyday player again is really nice.”