The whole community is rallying behind the Williamston Hornets.
"It's crazy, I've never really seen it all come together like this," said Riley Lewis, Senior Point-Guard and Co-Captain of the boys basketball team.
Victory after victory, the team is pushing through. But, it's been as much of a battle on the court as it has been off for their Head Coach Jason Bauer.
"I'm doing alright. I mean I've got this scar here. But it's all fun," he said.
Coach Bauer was forced to miss a few playoff games after undergoing emergency surgery to remove two brain tumors.
"It was just a gut shot. We took the kids in, gave 'em the news, in the gym actually, and said hey we gotta tell you this, we don't want you to hear on social media, we were really straight with them," said Interim Coach Tom Lewis. "But, it's been really tough, but Jason's been an absolute warrior about it."
And, Coach Lewis added, so have his players.
Riley Lewis said the tragic news has been pushing him and his teammates to play their hardest.
"We had something to play for at that point," he said. "It definitely has a big part to do with him. I mean we really want to get one done for him and the community and everyone supporting us."
His players' attitudes and success on the court, plus the community's endless support has Coach Bauer speechless.
"I'm really proud, words can't describe enough to what this means to me as a person," he said. "I've got confidence in my boys; and you know, I think they can pull this out."
And, the Hornets have the same confidence in him.
"We're gonna try to win our battle, we know he's gonna win his. And, hopefully we'll both come out on top," Lewis said.
And a quick update on Coach Bauer's health, he told us he's headed to Houston, Texas this Monday for a follow up.
