Hundreds remember the life of Wes Leonard, who died after a basketball game.
/ facebook: R.I.P. Wes Leonard
HOLLAND -- Update: March 9th, 12:12 a.m.
The Fennville High School tragedy is bringing memories of a Flint Southwestern athlete who died after a winning game years ago. To read more about his story, click here.
Update: March 8th, 12:20 p.m.
Hundreds gathered to remember the star basketball player, as Wes Leonard was laid to rest Tuesday morning.
The service was held at the Christ Memorial Church in Holland, Michigan. Funeral attendees wore bright orange ribbons, a Fennville High School Color in remembrance of the teen.
According to the Associated Press, during the funeral eulogy, Rev. Gary Peterson talked about Leonard’s Christian faith, saying, "Wes walked the talk. ... He was a man of action. He stood behind those words."
Medical examiners say Leonard died of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart just moments after scoring the game-winning layup.
Update: 4:00 pm - Dr. David A. Start, forensic pathologist in Kent County, Mich., ruled Wes Leonard's cause of death to be cardiac arrest due to dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart).
A game-winning basketball moment, turned into a shocking tragedy as a a high school basketball player in western Michigan collapsed on the court and died.
16-year-old Wes Leonard was a junior at Fennville High School, and a star on the basketball team.
During Thursday nights game against Bridgman High School, Leonard made a layup in the final seconds of the game, sealing the victory 57-55. However, cheers turned to terror as Leonard collapsed to the ground.
Paramedics immediately arrived at the scene, and performed CPR on the way to Holland Hospital. Leonard was pronounced dead at the hospital.
There is no word yet on what caused the death.
According to ESPN, Leonard isn’t the only Fennville athlete who has died recently. Nathaniel Hernandez, 14, died in January 2010 after suffering a seizure following a high school wrestling match.
*The Associated Press contributed to some of the information in this article.
