VIDEO: Injured Wildwood player gets chance to enjoy Senior Night experience

Posted: February 7th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – Lance Lillo scooped a bounce pass from teammate Jordan Fusik at the right block, squared his shoulders and banked a shot into the basket early in the first quarter of Tuesday’s boys basketball game at Wildwood High School. When the ball went through the net, those in attendance gave him the loudest ovation that would be heard all evening.

It’s easy to understand why.

Lillo, a senior at Wildwood, suffered a broken leg in an automobile accident over the summer. The injury caused Lillo, a two-way lineman, to miss all of football season. The 6-2 power forward had not appeared in a basketball game until given the opportunity to start against Salem Tech on Senior Night.

“It was, honestly, so much fun because I hadn’t had that experience in a while,” Lillo said. “I missed the whole season of football and then I pretty much missed all of basketball and even other things. It definitely made me happy to get out there and play with the guys, for sure. It was exciting for me.”

All told, Lillo played for approximately six minutes total in Tuesday’s game. He made both of his shot attempts and finished with four points and one steal.

Wildwood coach Scott McCracken said before the game his plan was to play Lillo for at least four minutes, if possible.

“After having to listen to me for four years, he’s going to get at least four minutes,” McCracken said with a laugh right before the game began.

Lillo was medically cleared to play a few weeks ago. But running is still a challenge, which is why he hadn’t appeared in a game until Tuesday’s Senior Night contest.

“My leg’s still swollen a little and it hurts a little to run, so I couldn’t really play,” he said.

But once the opportunity was presented to him to get on the court for Senior Night, he couldn’t turn it down.

“My coaches just said to go out there and have fun,” Lillo said. “They told me I was going to start and play a few minutes and they just said to go out and do my best.

“It was sore running up and down. I had a little pain but I just pushed through it. I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was just out there having fun.”

Lillo said “it felt amazing” to score his first basket, which came a little more than two minutes into a game that Wildwood won, 84-38. The basket broke a 3-3 tie and gave Wildwood the lead for good.

“I looked at (teammate and fellow senior) Junior (Hans) right away after I scored and I know I had a huge smile on my face,” Lillo said. “It was a great moment for me. I didn’t think I’d score that quick. I can’t believe I scored that fast.”

After graduation, Lillo said he plans to attend Richard Stockton University to prepare for a career in law enforcement.