Valentine’s A Special Day For McKay

PRAIRIE GROVE - Valentine’s Day was the perfect backdrop for the heartstrings that were pulled on Friday at the Prairie Grove gym. Because nowhere was there more love, compassion, and sportsmanship displayed than in the final seconds of a heated boys game between Farmington and Prairie Grove, two longtime rivals.

It took players from both teams on Senior Night to make it happen. Farmington had just scored to take a 64-55 lead over the Tigers with under 10 seconds left. That’s when Prairie Grove coach Steve Edmiston called a timeout with 6.7 seconds left to send McKay Gregson into the game. Gregson is a senior and special needs student who has spent the three years as a manager for the Tigers.

But on this special day, Valentine’s Day, McKay was in a home white Tigers uniform and prepared to step onto the court as a player for the first time if called upon.

“McKay had been in uniform one time before as an escort during homecoming,” Edmiston said.

“I talked to McKay earlier in the day Friday that I would do everything I could to put him in the game. But this was a hardfought game against our rival and, honestly, I had lost focus on that (discussion) because we were still trying to win.”

Edmiston didn’t hear the Rudy-like chants building from Prairie Grove fans until Kyllie McMullen, a Prairie Grove cheerleader, went up to him during the game and asked the coach to put McKay in.

“When she reminded me, of course, that’s what I did,” Edmiston said.

McKay, who was diagnosed with 22 Q11 Syndrome, a genetic deletion that causes autistic-like symptoms and limits intellectual ability, was indecisive on where to go until teammate Ty Tice pointed the way.

McKay then took his position on the right side of the Prairie Grove basket beyond the 3-point line.

That’s where he took a pass from Tice and hoisted an uncontested 3-pointer … that hit the front of the rim.

That could’ve been the end of the story after a Farmington player rebounded the basketball.

But not on this day, not on Valentine’s Day.

Jeremy Mueller of Farmington, a player who knows the history of this intense, longtime rivalry, rebounded the missed shot and, without hesitation, passed the ball back to McKay. McKay shot again and, on his second attempt, buried a 3-pointer that began a celebration on both sides of the gym.

Fans turned and hugged each other, tears welling in their eyes. Players from both teams exchanged high-fives and handshakesand students crowded the side of the court to congratulate McKay as he walked off the court.

McKay’s basket made the fi nal score 64-58, Farmington. But there were no losers, only winners on this special day, Valentine’s Day, when love and compassion are at its peak.

The final moments are captured on a YouTube video that began circulating late Friday night.

Listeners can hear the emotion in the voice of McKay’s father, Lynn Gregson, a play-by-play man for Prairie Grove games at pgtigersonline.

com.

“I have played in this rivalry,” said Ty Gregson, McKay’s older brother who came home from BYU just for the game.

“I know what it means to both towns to win. I was sitting on the Farmington side with my parents helping them with the broadcast. The Farmington fans all started congratulating and hugging my mom and dad. I will never forget the love displayed after that special shot.”

McKay’s basket didn’t change the outcome of the game, like the backto-back 3-pointers Malik Monk made for Bentonville against Springdale and Fayetteville. Those buzzer-beater landed Monk the lead on a segment of ESPN’s Sports Center. Prairie Grove will still begin the district tournament at Farmington this week as a No. 4 seed.

But what happened at Prairie Grove Friday night, on Valentine’s Day, was much more signifi cant than any highlight shown on ESPN. It a rarity that fans, players, and coaches - heated rivals, mind you - can exit a gym in unison with smiles on their faces and a glow in their hearts.

McKay Gregson did that with a big assist from his rival Jeremy Mueller.

RICK FIRES IS A SPORTSWRITER FOR NWA NEWSPAPER“I will never forget the love displayed after that special shot.” TY GREGSON

Brother of McKay Gregson, a Prairie Grove senior and special needs student, who hit a 3-pointer a the buzzer FridayOF S LHOTIFETIME WEB WEB WATCH WATCH See the video

of McKay’s

buzzer

beating free throw at www.youtube.com/

watch?v=m_dl8CCkpyg