Spelling out new start
Student favorite Motley beats cancer, plays hoops again
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Showing loud support for cancer survivor Mason Motley, a Farragut High School senior basketball player, during FHS Senior Night Tuesday, Dec. 8, five seniors spelled out M-A-S-O-N in the FHS student section. From left are Cooper Simpson (M), Carter Nussbaum (A), Grant Rice (S), Camden Kuhn (O) and Bridges Coffey (N). - Action photo courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com/student section photos by Alan Sloan
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Motley, far right, joins the charged student section after scoring four points in a blowout Ads win against Heritage. - Action photo courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com/student section photos by Alan Sloan
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Motley, far right, joins the charged student section after scoring four points in a blowout Ads win against Heritage. - Action photo courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com/student section photos by Alan Sloan
Who needs Bearden to fire up the Farragut High School student section when you have the inspiring story of basketball senior Mason Motley?
Able to resume playing hoops after a more than two-year battle with cancer — osteosarcoma in his left leg, needing crutches for more than a year — Motley was the Senior Night star Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Lynn E. Sexton Gymnasium.
With five student-section seniors paying a special alphabet tribute to M-A-S-O-N (see photo top right), Motley electrified the entire gym when he and his family — parents, Tim and Kristen Motley, and siblings, Carson and Cali — were introduced among the seniors recognized prior to the Admirals game versus Heritage.
“He’s come through so much; he’s grinded through everything. He’s just a great guy,” said senior Camden Kuhn, the “O” in M-A-S-O-N.
The section almost became unglued in the fourth quarter when Motley scored four points to help FHS win 63-32.
“It was crazy, it was a lot of fun,” the senior said after the game. “I’m thankful for all the support from all my friends and just the whole school.”
When first diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2018, “I told my close friends, ‘I’ll be back on the court,’” Motley said. “It’s a really great feeling to finally be back.”
“To fight through that for two years, and see where he’s at right now, it’s a testament to what kind of kid he is,” Admirals skipper Jon Higgins said.
