Boy’s basketball team honors teammate who passed away two days earlier
By Devan McKenney
After the loss of teammate Dallas Duran (19), Eaton boys basketball wrapped up their season on Friday, Feb. 24 in a district matchup versus Frontier Academy. Duran was killed in a train crash late Wednesday night, Feb. 22. He was heading home after leaving his girlfriend, Caitlin Frank’s house. Prior to that, Duran was with his teammate and close friend, Micah Dorsey (17). The team spent the next morning together, comforting each other in the counseling office of Eaton High School. They made the decision to play that night versus Platte Valley for Duran.
Platte Valley lost Derek Prescott (18) before the season started, in 2016. The matchup was extremely emotional as the whole gym sat in silence to remember the two lost players before the game. Platte Valley warmed up with Prescott’s number 13 on their backs. Eaton warmed up with Duran’s number 2 on their backs. Both teams played for someone who was lost far too soon. Mid-game, Dorsey, overcome with emotion, looked at his best friend and Dallas Duran’s cousin Darius Duran and said, ”I’m dropping this three”. Sure enough on the next inbound Dorsey drained a three-pointer from the top of the arch then pointed to the sky. Eaton won the game 63-58. Platte Valley then respectfully honored Duran and Eaton. Platte Valley’s JP Baladez walked to Eaton’s bench with a bouquet of flowers and a signed basketball by the team and presented them to Duran’s mother and family.
The next day, Eaton tipped off versus Frontier Academy. Eaton again recognized Duran by putting four players on the court and announcing Duran as a starter. Dorsey caught the opening tip and held it, pointed to the sky, and recognized his friend. In the end, Frontier won the game with a final score of 68-51.
“As seniors we decided to play the game for Dallas and honor him and started him just like Platte Valley did for Derek Prescott. Grabes (Coach Dean Grable) told us after we lost on Friday,” Dorsey said, “that [we] were definitely one of the toughest team he has ever had the privilege of coaching. Just to come over to face adversity and win for Dallas on Thursday, which was the most incredible thing, like there couldn’t have been a more perfect way to win for him.”
