Teammate’s leukemia diagnosis adds another layer of motivation for Benton Community

DES MOINES — The Benton Bobcats are blue and gold.

And this week, a major splash of orange.

Orange bracelets in the stands. Orange shoestrings and hair ribbons on the court.

Tatum Schroeder is two hours away. But only a wave away.

A sophomore on the Benton Community girls’ basketball team, Schroeder is in the early stages of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. She was diagnosed last week.

“She’s in a tough fight,” Benton Coach Jeff Zittergruen said. “She’s in a pretty aggressive treatment plan for the next 30 days. We’re hoping she gets this kicked.”

Schroeder suffered a concussion in a recent JV game, but symptoms of headaches, nausea and dizziness lingered. Zittergruen said she became “light-headed and pale” at practice last Tuesday.

Her family took her to the emergency room, then she was transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

She and her parents watched Monday’s game — Benton held off Des Moines Christian, 40-34, in a Class 3A quarterfinal — from her hospital room.

At the end of the first quarter, as has become tradition at University of Iowa football games at Kinnick Stadium, the Bobcats and their fans waved eastward, toward Iowa City.

And they’re wearing orange, the designated color in leukemia awareness.

“She’s doing her battle, fighting her fight, and we’re fighting here for her. We still have a mission,” junior Emma Townsley said.

Benton (22-3) faces archrival Vinton-Shellsburg (18-7) in a 3A semifinal at 1:30 Thursday afternoon. The winner plays for the championship at 8 p.m. Friday.

“We’re determined to win it all for Tatum, that’s the goal,” junior McKenna Kramer said.

All in the family

Third- or fourth-generation girls’ basketball players aren’t all that uncommon in Iowa.

This is a far more rare.

Freshman Averie Lower became a third-generation state-qualifying girls’ basketball player when Clear Creek Amana faced North Polk in a Class 4A quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon.

Her grandmother, Lori Haines Paisley, was a reserve forward on Winfield-Mount Union’s 1971 team that reached the six-on-six quarterfinals.

Her mother, Laci Palar Lower, was a 1997 Winfield-Mount Union graduate and a starter of the Wolves’ 1A state-title teams in 1995 and 1996. WMU won 80 straight games before falling to Lynnville-Sully in the 1997 semifinals.

“I think this is more nerve-racking (as a mom), than playing,” Laci said. “I don't remember being too nervous back when I played. I think in ‘95, I was young and clueless and just having a blast. After that, we knew what to expect, and it was all business.

“I think the nerves as a parent are greater because you want to see your child have a great experience and play to their full ability, but you can't do anything to help them other than cheering from the stands, where they probably can't even hear you.”

A 5-foot-10 wing, Averie is one of the top freshmen in the area, averaging 11.2 points per game for the Clippers. She entered the state tournament with 53 3-pointers.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com