Last Thursday in Pablo, four SKC players took the court for

their teammate, Marvin Hudson-Lewis

PABLO - Marvin Hudson-Lewis took the court one last time for Salish-Kootenai College. His No. 1 jersey was retired last Thursday in front of teammates, family members and the community in remembrance of a bright soul whose life ended much too soon.

"We're taking this jersey and putting it away and giving it to his family," SKC's Silas Perez said. "It doesn't belong to us anymore, it belongs to his family."

Hudson-Lewis drowned on Aug. 4 while swimming in the Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota. Lewis' family was present for the ceremony at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center before SKC took on junior college national powerhouse North Idaho College. Family members traveled from Washington State and South Dakota to make the game and be part of the ceremony.

Lewis was remembered for his passion and pride for Bison basketball, and some of his teammates approached the jersey and tapped it emotionally.

"Play harder, we know he's watching," one of Lewis' family members said before the game.

The Bison took the floor with only four players and Lewis' jersey was put at center court for a ceremonial tip-off. Lewis was listed as an official starter for the Bison and appeared in the final box score for the game.

After the game was over, the players lifted the jersey above them at center court.

"These players are like kids to me so that was very emotional," Camel said. "I was choked up."

Camel said that Lewis was a big part of what the Bison basketball team did last year and that he was a good person off the court as well.

"Our coaches and I never had to worry about what we were going to do at the end of the game when we needed to score," Camel said. "It all went through Marvin."

Players and family members posed for photos behind the retired jersey before the game in front of the crowd at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center.

"NIC showed a lot of class for letting us do the ceremony and tip-off," Camel said. "I really appreciate their understanding."

Camel said that the team still has one final respect to pay to Lewis as they'll travel to the AIHEC National Championship Tournament in Rapid City, S.D., the place where Lewis passed.

Teammates will get another chance to remember their teammate once more before they take the court in their biggest tournament of the year. However, with the way that Lewis was embraced by the community and the way he embraced the Bison, chances are nobody will be forgetting about this wonderful basketball player and person anytime soon.