CROWN POINT | Andy Carpenter received the Courage Award from Crown Point High School last Saturday night at the Bulldogs' boys basketball game against Boone Grove.
On Monday he celebrated his 17th birthday, and the next day, Carpenter had his Thyroid removed at the University of Chicago Hospital as he faces cancer for the fourth time in his young life.
"He is my hero," said Christy Carpenter, Andy's mother.
Andy will have to wait until Feb. 15, when test results are returned, to see if the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes. Soon, he will begin radiation treatment.
"Anyone who knows Andy understands that he will never quit," Christy said.
Merrillville assistant boys basketball coach T.J. Lux has worked with Carpenter for two years trying to build up his upper body, so the wheelchair basketball player would have a chance to finally make a basket in a game for his team, the Rollin' Hoosiers. Carpenter played wheelchair basketball for six years without ever scoring.
But on Dec. 12 at the Rockford Park District Holiday Tournament, Carpenter scored three times in guiding the Hoosiers to the championship in their division.
"T.J. said I had a gunner's mentality," Carpenter said on Sunday. "The first one was a swisher from five feet. All my coaches went crazy. All the parents went crazy. I was happy. I finally made it."
Of the 227 players in the event, Carpenter was given the AMA Award for displaying ability, motivation and attitude.
"Andy had a special twinkle in his eye when I saw him after he scored," Lux said. "I am so proud that he was able to accomplish this goal. It gave me chills. It brought up all kinds of emotions. Now, with the new cancer, he's just got one more mountain to climb. I believe he's going to make it."
At this Thursday's Chesterton game at Merrillville, the Rollin' Hoosiers are scheduled to scrimmage at halftime. Carpenter's cousin was Indiana All-Star football player Adam Hutnick, also of Chesterton.
His father, Kevin Carpenter, was pleased when the crowd gave his son a standing ovation at Crown Point last Saturday. Several Boone Grove fans came over to offer Andy a hand and kind words. Bulldogs coach Clint Swan spoke with Carpenter, but he had to wait in a long line.
"We were the last ones out of the gym," Kevin Carpenter said.
Andy keeps his head up when looking at his past life and his future. He believes he has many more baskets to make.
"God keeps me going," he said. "He has a plan. I'm not scared at all."
LOCAL SPORTS
