Heller still driving force for Rams
John Canzano
The Oregonian - Sunday, March 04, 2007
Just the other day, eight boys high school basketball coaches from the Mt. Hood Conference gathered to nominate, and select, the annual all-league squad.
They squabbled over statistics, and debated shooting percentages and rebounding averages, and talked about the value of team leadership. Lots of sports leagues have meetings like this one. Before they left, the coaches voted a player onto the team who didn't make a basket or play a single varsity minute this season.
Ridiculous, huh?
Except, you should know that the vote was 8-0. And that if you asked any Central Catholic varsity boys basketball player to explain how it won the conference championship this season, they might talk about teamwork, coaching, good shot selection and defense, but ultimately, they'd tell you about David Heller, the 2006-07 all-league honorable mention guard.
Heller was the 17-year-old who played in his team's final preseason scrimmage in late November 2005, came home, showered, kissed his mother goodnight, and was found the next morning, lifeless, but still hugging his pillow.
He died from an enlarged heart, doctors said.
Six days later, on the day of their season opener, Heller's team met in a small room on campus where then-coach Steve Halligan handed out shiny silver coins imprinted with a winged angel. School principal, Father Murphy, led a prayer. Then, Halligan told his players, "Keep this coin in every pair of pants you ever wear."
The boys still carry those coins. Also, they wore patches on their jerseys with Heller's initials and No. 30 jersey number last season. And, they carried a towel embroidered with his name with them the entire 2005-06 season on the bench. Then, in the summer, Halligan retired, and 34-year old assistant Michael Petrino, Heller's junior varsity coach, was promoted.
Everyone moved on. Jeff and Bev Heller, David's parents, walked off into the summer, figuring that was that, while hugging their other three children, and holding onto their memories.
Said Jeff: "My wife and I still sit up at night, and talk about how it's never truly going to be the same for us. In my worst moments, I sit there and think, 'I got robbed.' But I can't do that anymore. I want to walk up to parents when I see them with their kids and say, 'Enjoy this. Enjoy the moment.'
"I always thought I had everything under control."
Their oldest son is gone.
Or is he?
On Saturday night, more than 15 months after David's death, that white towel embroidered with Heller's name was on the Central Catholic bench for the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. And, weeks before, at the final regular season home game, traditionally reserved to honor senior players, Petrino insisted the Heller family attend, and receive a No. 30 jersey. In fact, for every game this season, when the coach filled out the official scorebook, Petrino wrote the name "Heller" among his available players.
Sometimes a referee would approach before tip-off and say, "Um, coach. You have 13 players in the book, but I only see 12 warming up on the court."
Petrino would explain the team had dedicated its season to Heller again in 2006-07, and the rookie coach would tell the referee, "David's with us."
In the eyes of Central Catholic basketball, Heller never went anywhere, see. He's been their inspiration. He's provided guidance. And perspective. Central Catholic went 19-5 this regular season, 13-1 in the conference with Heller leading the way, and his parents occasionally sneaking into the back row of the home gymnasium to watch.
"I've learned that when you share suffering," Petrino said, "you share success."
Which is why, as the all-league meeting was wrapping up, Petrino turned to the other seven coaches, and said, "I don't know what precedent is, and I don't want to step on anyone's toes here. If we're all in agreement, great. If we're not, it won't leave the room, but I'd love to nominate David Heller, who would have been our best player."
Tom Johnson, Barlow High, Central's biggest rival, raised his hand and said he thought it was a wonderful idea. One by one, the other six coaches nodded their heads, too, and why wouldn't they? Every coach in the room, most of whom never met Heller, attended his funeral, where they learned what he stood for.
Be Kind. Live with purpose. Work on your weaknesses.
We hear so much talk about teenagers challenging authority, and experimenting with drugs, sex and alcohol. We're told that emerging adulthood is a stormy and stressful period. Then, life spits us a David Heller, the altar boy who got straight A's, volunteered at a homeless shelter and brought blankets to migrant workers in the winter.
Then, it takes him away, just like that.
Then, the kids at Central Catholic who knew him best, say, not so fast. And they spend the rest of their high school years remembering him as a fearless, unselfish basketball player, who took 500 shots every night, and dreamed about leading his team into the state high school basketball playoffs someday.
Well, Central Catholic High played that playoff game on Saturday.
All-league?
The kid had it coming.
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