The Pierre boys' basketball team lost the services of a key player this season and it wasn't due to graduation or injury, but to cancer.
Conrad Adam might not be contributing points and rebounds this season to the Governors, who were rated number one in the Class AA poll last week, but his impact is still being felt on the team.
Adam, who was also a member of the Dakota Schoolers basketball team in the summer, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left femur on Aug. 1. Osteosarcoma is a cancerous bone tumor that usually develops during a period of rapid growth that occurs in adolescence.
At the end of July during an open gym session at Pierre, Adam told the Governors head coach Terry Becker that his leg was a little sore and swollen. Adam told Becker he was going to a doctor the next day and would call his coach with the results.
"Conrad had tendonitis issues because he had grown fast," said Becker. "He texted me the next day to say he was going to Sioux Falls for more tests. His dad later called me and dropped the bombshell."
Although he isn't with the team, Adam appears as No. 5 on the roster. Adam played as a 6-foot-3 guard his sophomore season on the varsity, but is listed as a 6-5 junior guard/forward on this year's roster.
Just as Derek Johnson, an Aberdeen Central football player and wrestler, and Don Meyer, former Northern State men's basketball coach and current NSU regent distinguished professor, had to make a decision about whether or not to amputate, the time came for Adam.
Johnson was injured in a football game his sophomore year, but returned to wrestle and place at state his senior season. Meyer, who was injured in a severe car crash, returned to the bench to coach the Wolves.
"It came to a point that Conrad had to make a decision on what to do with the leg," said Becker. "The choice to amputate was totally his. He had the doctors level with him and tell him the odds. The best chance for his long term health was to amputate. It was quite a courageous one."
Becker said that in their conversations Adam was in a lot of pain after the surgery in October.
"Conrad said, 'If this is the worst part of it. I can do it.' For him to make that kind of mature decision is impressive," said Becker.
Adam also has a spot of cancer on his back and is currently at the M.D. Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas, receiving chemotherapy and radiation. The entire Karl and Joan Adam family along with Conrad's three brothers, Jack, Phillip and Paul, and sister Katherine will spend Christmas in Texas, said Becker. Conrad hopes to return to Pierre in January.
"He's so incredible," said Becker. "His attitude never wavers. He always has the same resolve. He's going to beat it and go on to the next step. He doesn't take a victim's stand. He doesn't ask, 'Why me?' A couple of weeks ago, his dad mentioned that Conrad said, 'I can't wait until I get back in the weight room.' He's a poster child on how to take on and beat this disease."
Adam isn't just sitting around the hospital between treatments. He and several other cancer patients were chosen to attend the 43rd Rotary Lombardi Award ceremony on Dec. 5 in Houston. The award which is named after the Green Bay Packers legendary football coach Vince Lombardi and was won by Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.
Adam got to sit in the front row and show off his true colors. For the ESPN televised program, he donned a black tuxedo with a Pierre green tie and vest. Adam met long-time college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale, a huge advocate for cancer research, at a game.
The high school basketball community in South Dakota has given Adam support. Pierre is many fans' choice to win a state title. Despite being on opposite sides during the game, the Mitchell Kernels showed their support by donning Conrad's Clan T-shirts in warmups before their recent game. The same thing happened when the Governors journeyed to Huron for a game. Even members of the crowd sported the T-shirts.
"I've never seen so much green in the Huron Arena. It is a testament to who Conrad is and his character. It's interesting to see the basketball connections the kids make. It's why South Dakota is such a great place to live," said Becker.
Despite his absence, Adam remains a part of what the Governors are doing.
"He is a huge part of our team," said Becker. "He's a kid that came to practice every day and competed hard. He was locked in to everything we did. We need to give a great effort because that's what Conrad would do. It gives us the incentive to work harder. He's still impacting us with his leadership and pushing us along."
Meanwhile back in the Pierre gym, extra sprints or conditioning don't seem as tough to Conrad's teammates.
"Conrad's fighting a lot tougher battle and he's maintaining a positive attitude," said Becker.
Aberdeen Central travels to Pierre on Jan. 22 and the Governors will be in Aberdeen on Feb. 19 for the last game of the regular season.
Order Conrad's Clan T-shirts at dakotaschoolers.com or Paul Seville, 1809 W. Oak St., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57105. Cost: $15 plus $5 shipping. Adam can be found on Twitter and CaringBridge, as well.