Inflamed appendix spoils holiday tourney for George Rogers Clark guard
Holiday tournament road trips aim for team bonding and, hopefully, a few wins along the way.
But George Rogers Clark senior guard Tyleik Maxwell’s appendix had other ideas as the Cardinals wound down their visit to Myrtle Beach, S.C., last week.
While his team prepared to play the final game of the Beach Ball Classic, Maxwell underwent an appendectomy at a local hospital.
Maxwell, who played quarterback for the football Cardinals last season, began feeling discomfort after the basketball team arrived in South Carolina on Dec. 28.
“It wasn’t that bad, I mean, I played two games on it. … I was running around, trapping and stuff,” said Maxwell, who Thursday made his first appearance with the team since the surgery, rejoining the bench in street clothes as Clark played Great Crossing.
The pain got a lot worse the night after the second game and Maxwell’s mother took him from the hotel to the hospital where they determined he had appendicitis and that his appendix had to be removed.
“When they told me what it actually was, I was just mad that I had to miss games,” Maxwell said.
Clark Coach Josh Cook didn’t really know the extent of Maxwell’s condition until he was updated later that morning.
“I had no clue,” Cook said. “I’m excited to see him back today. My daughter is his biggest fan, so we are truly excited to have him back. We just thank God he’s OK and hope for a fast recovery.”
Maxwell affirmed that he feels much better and is looking forward to rejoining the team in uniform within a couple of weeks.
