Tragedy strikes Sahuarita basketball team

Prior to the start of the 2007-08 Sahuarita Mustang basketball season, head coach Scott Boyter met with junior guard Daniel Figueroa to discuss his role on the team.

Figueroa, whose game relied on a tireless work ethic and a consistent outside shot, could either be the star of the junior varsity team and likely become the leading scorer.

Or, Boyter said Figueroa could try his hand at varsity competition. Knowing minutes would be sparse with Sahuarita’s talented back court, Figueroa elected to spend his season practicing as hard as he could with the varsity squad and push the starters to the limit every day.

It was this dedication and desire for improvement that endeared Figueroa to his coaches and teammates.

He was one of the most beloved members of the team before a tragic Friday night traffic accident took his life at the age of 16.

“This is just brutal,” Boyter said. “Danny was such a great kid and a wonderful teammate. None of us will ever be the same, but our team is going to do their best to get though this together.”

Boyter assembled his team on Saturday morning to discuss what had happened. In these moments, a team can act as a de facto support group, especially for a group of close-knit, heavy-hearted teenagers.

The boys have continued to practice—spirited, yet somber exhibitions of basketball, knowing their teammate would want them to continue charging toward a spot in the state tournament.

The team will attend Figueroa’s wake together at 5 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Green Valley, with tomorrow’s 10 a.m. memorial to follow.

“The team has handled everything that has come their way so far,” Boyter said. “They’re a resilient group.”

Figueroa, a Sahuarita native, was a member of a particularly close junior class—a group that had been playing basketball together since youth league.

Boyter said the juniors typically sat at the same lunch-room table every day and constantly talked basketball.

“Danny was going to be a huge part of our team next year,” Boyter said.

The Mustangs were scheduled to battle Rio Rico last night and Santa Rita tomorrow, but both games will be moved to next week to allow the players some time to grieve.

They will return to action on Friday night by hosting the Catalina Trojans at 7 p.m.

“Our boys are doing a great job supporting each other and I’m extremely proud of how they’re handling everything,” Boyter said.

Boyter and the Mustangs are also setting up a fund to help the Figueroas through this tough time.

“You understand why Danny was such a great kid when you get to know his family,” Boyter said.

For information on how to contribute to the Daniel Figueroa Memorial Fund, please call Boyter at 625-3502, extension 1532.

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