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MATC basketball team honors player who was fatally shot

Victim's son takes spot on the bench
Posted 7:50 PM, Jan 29, 2017

A young man killed this week was remembered by family, friends and his basketball teammates in a big way Saturday night.

Twenty-seven-year-old D'andre Morehouse was shot and killed near 80th and Green Tree Road on Wednesday afternoon.
 
On Saturday, MATC took the court for just the second time since their point guard was killed. The team decided to do something special to bring comfort to Morehouse’s grieving family.

Rather than leaving an empty seat on their bench, Morehouse’s biggest fan took his spot — his 7-year-old son.

"It makes me feel so good because he loves basketball, his dad loves basketball and he just wants to follow in his dad's footsteps," Morehouse’s girlfriend, Brittany Lee, said.

"Looking at his son on the bench is like a pure image of him," Morehouse’s cousin, Ivory Morehouse Jr., said.

Dozens of family, friends and loved ones cheered on the Stormers to a come-from-behind win over College of Dupage.

"He was a leader; they looked up to him even though he was older than them,” Ivory Morehouse Jr. said.

Yet, no one celebrated as much as Morehouse’s son, who ran across the court in a much-needed display of joy.

Even though his dad isn't here, he's here for his dad,” Lee said.

The feeling of triumph after the game took a much more somber tone less than an hour later as family and friends grieved at Clovernook Park. Candles were lit and memories were shared of the man who cherished his son and was loved by many.

"We're all just in shock,” Ivory said. “We don't know why, (he) never had any enemies."

The MATC basketball team is on a mission to win their conference championship. If their goal is accomplished, they plan to give Morehouse's championship ring to his son.