That his team couldn't pull off the comeback against a top-ranked opponent was a minor blip on the radar for Loveland High School girls basketball coach Darnell Parker.
Down only 18-17 at the half to the No. 3-seed Princeton, Loveland's girls fell short 49-30 to end their season. Yet, this coach, who's had his share of battles on and off the court, left with his usual smile.
One recent struggle wasn't voluntary, as Parker missed most of the 2021-22 campaign after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer nearly 16 months ago.
He spent 12 days, around the week of Christmas 2021, at the Cleveland Clinic for a lengthy surgery and recuperation. By mid-January, he made a cameo visit to his team. In his absence, assistants Keith Braswell and Brad Early filled in, with Parker keeping track from afar.
"I did well after the surgery. My doctor gave me the clearance and I sprinted back as fast as I could to get back with these girls," Parker said. "I'm so happy I did."
Coming into the game, Loveland had won five straight, going from 10-9 to 15-9 with a pair of postseason wins. As Parker gradually subbed out his starters in the Princeton game, he hugged them knowing another coaching chapter of his life had ended.
Looking at the big picture, Parker remains upbeat in the face of uncertainty.
He lost his father to COVID-19 in October 2020 then shortly after received his cancer diagnosis, throwing him for a loop. As a trained athlete, he got back up and forged forward, albeit with the occasional push back.
"My body has responded to the therapy, the treatment," Parker said. "I started a new chemo pill two weeks ago. I get tired but I need this."
He now has something more to live for than basketball.
On Valentine's Day, he announced on Facebook that he and his wife, Samantha, are expecting a baby. A few days later, a reveal celebration gave him the news he would be the father of a baby boy at age 44.
"We're going to have a mini-Parker in September," Sam Parker said. "It's been a rough two years for sure. It was nice to have a sense of relief after everything that's been going on."
Darnell Parker has two grown daughters from a previous marriage who were bridesmaids at his wedding to Sam. As proud as he is of them, he will add to that joy with a new opportunity at fatherhood.
In the meantime, bills remain. Because his procedures at the Cleveland Clinic were a result of a second opinion, his insurance doesn't cover duplication of some tests. Sam's hotel expenses for a week were also not covered. Mother-in-law Melissa McElfresh had established a GoFundMe page after Parker's initial diagnosis and has been updating his condition and medical issues. Like his Loveland supporters, they have all remained #ParkerStrong.
"Even at home I have to keep him contained because he's on the move all the time," Sam Parker said. "They were able to remove everything out of his colon. Liver-wise, not quite everything. That's what the chemo pill is for. They'll re-scan after about 12 weeks to see where we stand after that. Other than that, chemo's not affecting him and he's handled it like a champ. I'm glad to see him do what he likes."
Eastern Cincinnati Conference Coach of the Year and league champion in 2020 and 2021, Darnell Parker's Tigers were in the middle of the pack this year as Winton Woods won the league with just one loss.
The late-season surge was energizing. Parker now looks forward to the climb back while watching a son climb on his lap.
"I'm going to be around for a long time coaching these girls," Parker said. "God is good and I've been blessed."
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