KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Maddox Shields is known as "Mad Dog" around Halls High School. He has been the boys' basketball team's manager for four seasons. On Friday night, the Devils placed Shields in the starting lineup on a senior night against Anderson County.
Fans of both schools cheered as "Mad Dog" was introduced as a starter. The Halls student section even printed a large cutout of his head.
When the game started, an Anderson County player took the ball and scored on an uncontested layup. Then, Shields was handed the ball with the task of tying the game at 2-2.
He dribbled from one side of the court to the other. None of the Mavericks played defense. Instead, they cheered Shields on.
He missed his first attempt but was handed the ball for a second try. Shields nailed the follow-up and tied the game. The fans erupted and the Halls student section chanted his name.
"When you have a child like Maddox, there are just certain dreams that you have for him...one of them was to have this kind of a high school experience. The team here treats him like one of their own," his mother, Tina Shields, said.
Maddox went to the bench after his basket and sat in his usual seat as manager. However, the Red Devils wound up leading by such a large margin that they placed Maddox back in the game in the fourth quarter. He scored again, ending the senior night with four points.