KARNS CITY — A senior A-C Valley boys basketball player was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital Friday night with head and neck injuries suffered during a game at Karns City High School.

Brady Terwilliger, a 5-foot-8 guard, was injured midway through the third quarter when he crashed to the court after going up for a rebound in the Falcons' loss to Karns City.

The game was delayed for 26 minutes while medical personnel attended to Terwilliger.

“It was pretty bad,” said Karns City boys basketball coach Chris Bellis. “He was strapped in on a stretcher. But he stuck his thumbs up on the way out the door.”

A-C Valley boys basketball coach Andy Rapp said Terwilliger had feeling in all of his extremities and was undergoing tests at the hospital late Friday night.

“He's in a lot of pain,” Rapp said. “His head and his neck.”

Terwilliger had a concussion, a sprained neck and a sprained back. He left the hospital last night.

Rapp said he will never forget the sound made when Terwilliger hit the floor.

“The whole gym went silent,” Rapp said. “The sight and sound of it was traumatizing to everyone in that gym.”

After a brief discussion about suspending the contest, the game continued.

“There was not even a question in (my player's) minds,” Rapp said. “We wanted to finish it out.”

Rapp said he had little doubt Terwilliger will make a speedy recovery.

“They don't make them any tougher than Brady Terwilliger,” the coach said.

He also commended Karns City for the way they handled the injury.

“Karns City fans, players and coaches were nothing but class acts,” Rapp said. “They handled everything with respect and dignity.”