Scary incident
- Updated: January 7, 2025
Weaver’s Marks ‘cleared and headed home’ from Children’s Hospital after suffering fall, seizure at halftime of game with Saks.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER — Weaver junior basketball player Aaliyah Marks is “cleared and headed home” from Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital after taking a scary fall in the Bearcats’ basketball game against Saks on Tuesday, Weaver principal Tracy Brazier said.
LaDreka Marks, Aaliyah’s mother, later confirmed via text that her daughter had been released and had returned home.
Marks was treated for several minutes on the court during halftime after hitting her head on the playing floor. Paramedics stretchered her out of Mike Deerman Gymnasium and took her down to the football field, from which she was transported by helicopter to Children’s Hospital.
“She is up and talking,” LaDreka Marks said shortly after Tuesday’s boy-girl doubleheader ended. “They are running tests now.”
Brazier said Aaliyah Marks experienced a seizure on the playing floor. However, he said, she was responsive before leaving the Weaver campus.
Brazier called the move to transport Marks to Birmingham “precautionary.”
The scary incident began when Marks attempted a long 3-pointer just ahead of the halftime buzzer.
“She shot the ball, and I’m not sure exactly how she fell,” Brazier said. “When she came down, she hit her head.”
Brazier said Marks was initially conscious and responded affirmatively when asked if she hit her head.
“In a second or two, she started going out,” Brazier said. “She closed her eyes and started having a seizure.
“She seized for a few minutes and then came to, but she didn’t know where she was. By the time the helicopter got here, she was responsive and talking to them.”
The incident delayed the start of the second half, but the two teams finished the Class 3A, Area 9 game. Saks won, 60-44, after leading 36-24 at halftime.
Marks, a junior guard and All-Calhoun County section for the 2023-24 season, scored 19 points. Brenley Russell scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half.
Sania Angel paced Saks with 18 points. Alonna Crews added 14 and Madison Turner 13 as the Wildcats improved to 11-3 overall, 3-0 in area play.
As for Marks, “My heart and my prayers go out to her,” Saks coach Lamar Bradford said. “I hope she’s doing well.
“We don’t want to see anybody get injured in the game. We want to see her on the floor, participating, and I just pray that she’s back soon.”
Tuesday’s incident marks the second time this school year for a Weaver athlete to be transported by helicopter to Children’s Hospital. Kaden Gooden was airlifted from Wellborn High’s football field on Sept. 6 but was examined and released later that night.
He finished the football season and plays for Weaver’s boys’ basketball team.
“It’s rough,” Brazier said. “It’s definitely not good. It’s something that you never want to see. Unfortunately, we’ve seen it twice this year.
“Hopefully, we’ll have the same results this time.”
Boys game
WEAVER 75, SAKS 47: Weaver senior basketball and cheerleaders were honored between the girls’ and boys’ games. The senior basketball players — Gooden. KeShawn Allen, Lorenzo Blake, Damerion Welch and Harper Williams — presented Weaver coach Beau Winn with a frame picture in appreciation for his work.
Allen led all scorers with 31 points as Weaver improved to 11-9 overall, 3-0 area. D.J. Marbury added 17 points, and Gooden scored 12.
Williams added seven points. Blake hit a 3-pointer just before the end of the game, and Welch scored a fourth-quarter bucket.
Trailing 11-8, Weaver went on an 18-3 run starting at the end of the first quarter. The run started with a Gooden 3-pointer and carried into the second quarter.
“Today, we had a lot going on before we even played,” Winn said. “We had one in the game before ours get injured. She’s all right, from what I understand, but we also had senior night.
“We had a lot of emotions, a lot of anxiety. We had a lot of people here to watch them, and we just didn’t play how we normally play, and it showed in the first quarter. We calmed down and gathered ourselves and did the right things from there.”
Christian Hall led Saks with 15 points, and Lajuan Curry hit two 3-pointers on the way to 14 points.
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