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Cancer Survivor Nick Herrmann Hitting A Buzzer-Beater In The State Finals After Being Told He Might Lose His Leg Brings All Of The Feels

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Nick Herrmann Torrey Pines Basketball

KUSI Sports

Hollywood couldn’t write it any better. Less than three years ago, Nick Herrmann was told that he could never play basketball again. On Saturday, he hit a buzzer-beater to win the CIF San Diego Section championship.

Herrmann, a senior at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, known as osteosarcoma, in his left leg. Doctors told him that he would never take the court again. He was told that he might lose his leg.

The diagnosis came in September 2018 and Herrmann set out to prove the experts wrong. After 70 days in the hospital, a year away from school and four surgeries, he had to learn how to run all over again. He did.

Then he had to to relearn how to play basketball. He did.

After working his way back to the court, Herrmann reclassified as a junior and averaged 10.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists. As a senior this year, he helped lead the Falcons to an undefeated regular season record.

Had the story ended there, it would have been a remarkable comeback for a resilient young man. But it didn’t.

Sending to States.

With only one half-second remaining, Torrey Pines was tied at 60 with Cathedral Catholic. The winner would advance to the California State Championship bracket, the loser would have its season come to a close.

Herrmann got open, caught the inbound pass and threw up a three-pointer from near half court. He drained it and beat the buzzer. Pandemonium.

After the game, in his postgame interview, the emotions were heavy and it will give you chills.

Nobody deserves such an incredible moment more than Herrmann. He worked so hard to get back on the court and it made for one of the best stories of 2021.