Parkhurst's injury puts a hole in the starting lineup
By Gabe Anderson

The Heritage boys' varsity basketball team’s regular season opener left them with a bittersweet taste in their mouths. On one hand, they defeated Central Minnesota Christian 80-41, but on the other hand, the squad lost starting guard and captain Evan Parkhurst for the remaining of the regular season by way of a broken scaphoid bones in both wrists, which he sustained in the game. Parkhurst had a screws surgically fused into his right wrist to combat the problem.
The MRI taken on his left wrist found breaks, but, fortunately, no dislocation, though a cast is still required. The injury will keep Evan off the court for six to eight weeks, which is a much shorter time line then early predictions which estimated that he would not be able to return to the team by at least March when the section playoffs begin.
The injury leaves the Eagles an open spot in the starting lineup. junior forward Spenser Bland has filled in the starting job in Evans absence and has done a marvelous job averaging 10.0 points per game and giving the Eagles stability in the post. He was the key to the eagles win against St.Croix Lutheran scoring a team high 16 points. "Everybody needs to step up because we have big shoes to fill. Evan was a leader on the team and gave everything," said Bland on Evan's absence. "Not only the starters but every member of the team needs to step up and be ready when their name is called on."
I am sure that I speak for the whole athletic department and the whole student body when I say that our hearts and prayers go out to Evan and the Parkhurst family for a safe and quick recovery. “The rest of the team will need to step up and push themselves to the limit to fill the void," said senior forward Gabe Anderson.
Super fan Nick Hanscome predicts, “The team will move on the wings of eagles and will come out stronger because of this.” Since the injury the eagles have continued to succeed accumulating a 4-0 record since Evans injury with wins against West Lutheran(78-70), St.Croix Lutheran(67-63), #4 Lakeview Christian(106-103), St. Agnes(79-53) PACT charter (68-51) Metro Tech Academy(80-47) and won the "Park Rapids Holiday Classic" for the second year in a row. Next up for the Eagles is an away game against St.Paul Academy on the fifth of January.