A former Mitchell basketball player gone too soon #RyanStrong

Next to each scoreboard at the Mitchell gym, is a portrait of Ryan Coldren. Coldren, a former basketball player, graduated last year. He missed several games during his senior year because of back pain. Doctors in Colorado found nothing. After he graduated, he left for San Antonio to visit his dad, doctors there found a tumor. Ryan had cancer, "Him being the guy he is, he didn't let it stop him. He just kept a smile on his face and told us he was going to be great. He never gave up. He stayed strong. He could have given up, but not Ryan. He still had his beautiful smile, that's strength right there, " says Coldren's former teammate Savaughn Washington. To help Ryan's family raise money for treatment, the team made bracelets and lanyards imprinted with the hashtag Ryan Strong.

Ryan fought bravely, but died in October, "I couldn't believe it. It was really hard because a couple of months before that, he was happy and fine. Nothing was wrong," says Tarves Washington.

The basketball court is their sanctuary, and the Marauders are playing for their friend, stronger than ever, Ryan Strong, "He was one of our brothers and he was one of the hardest workers we had last year. So we just took his attitude onto ourselves and decided we've got to dedicate it to him," says Rylee Randall. Savaughn Washington added "I know he knew this was coming. He always told us that we were going to be the ones who changes Mitchell. I say we're doing it right now. He always told us we were going to do big things, so every time I look up at him, I'm like: that's for you."