Brad Rhoades is a scrawny 15-year-old with a sweet jumper, but after spending an afternoon with the Pembroke Academy sophomore, I realized he's one of the toughest basketball players in the state. Two days after his mother, Kristen Rhoades, died in a snowmobile crash, leaving two kids and a husband at age 46, Brad torched Bishop Brady with 46 points. "Momma love," he calls it. Nearly 10 months have passed since the tragedy, and Rhoades is still going strong. "If I didn't have sports, I'd probably be one of those people that never lets it go from your mind," he said. "There are days when it's tough, but I always try to look at the positives. I'm always thinking of ways to make her proud?" Pembroke's season opens tonight against Portsmouth in a matchup of Division II's top teams. More in today's New Hampshire Union Leader.
"It's amazing how many people have reached out to us from across the country," said Brad's father, Frank. "It made us feel special and realize how everyone deals with tragedy. It's how you deal with it afterwards."
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| Pembroke Spartans pictured left to right: Dominic Timbas, Brad Rhoades, Dylan Gage, Rene Maher and Jordan Williams. |
"It's amazing how many people have reached out to us from across the country," said Brad's father, Frank. "It made us feel special and realize how everyone deals with tragedy. It's how you deal with it afterwards."
Great article KG!
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