By Gary Van Cleave
Special to Great Bend Tribune
MACKSVILLE - Macksville junior Nolan Adams sensed something was wrong in his 6-foot-8, 240-pound body.
“I’ve played basketball since forever and I’ve always wanted to make the NBA and play in college,” Adams said. “We noticed something was wrong around mid March. There was like a really big lump.”
A lump on the left side of his neck which concerned his family.
“We went to the clinic for blood tests then we went to a doctor in Hoisington,” Adams said. “He told us what it could be so he did surgery.”
Surgery to remove the lymph nodes which is where the cancer was, Adams continued.
“I didn’t really think I had it, but I was like really scared I did,” Adams said. “I was mostly scared on how it would affect my ability to play basketball.”
Macksville first-year coach Tanner Wedel said, "When he was diagnosed originally I was not at the school. My initial reaction was concern for Nolan and his family. No kid should have to go through that.”
His hospital stay was brief, just long enough for the surgery and 30 minutes of postoperative.
“I couldn’t do like any lifting and pretty much no strain on my left arm,” the Mustang said.
He slowly began shooting the rock that like a yellow Labrador had become his best friend.
“It was just like whenever I felt like I could truly shoot without it hurting,” Adams said.
Cancer had picked the wrong person to fight, especially when it came to his love of basketball.
“Like 1-2 weeks after I went to play pickup and I had been shooting a little bit throughout the time between then and the surgery,” he said. “But that was the first time I could shoot and it felt normal.”
Normal as in no pain when shooting.
Twelve grueling chemotherapy treatments later, Adams got to ring not just any bell.
It was THE bell.
“I am officially cancer free,” he posted on social media Oct. 24, 2025. “Huge thank you to all the nurses and doctors and all Glory to God.”
His freshman brother Layton Adams said, "I felt excited. I watched his hard work and dedication every day pay off.
And no moment too soon as basketball practice was about to begin.
“My reaction was relief. I was just so happy for Nolan and his family, and for him to be able to get back to doing things that he loves to do,” Wedel said.
“I was relieved, very relieved,” Adams said. “Before I got the news, I felt like it would never end so getting the news was just an un explainable amount of relief.”
His teammates were glad to see the big man back on the court.
Brandon Franklin said, "I was happy to see him back on the court with us."
Carlos Ibarra said, "It was a heart-touching moment for me to see him back on the court with us."
He’s back on the court thanks to the love and care he received while in the hospital.
“The oncology team which I’m pretty sure was one doctor and a lot of nurses. They are I would say friends to me now and my family and them to me are like very close to me,” Adams said. “And my friends to me are just like family and then God who is my Lord and savior.
“He got me through everything through the ups and the downs. So did my family.”
His Christmas present was unwrapped Dec. 19 against rival Stafford.
“I was basically just trying to get into rebounding position. We reversed the ball so I had position then Brandon Franklin's shot missed. It wasn’t hard to get the rebound, so I just got it and put it back up and in,” Adams said of his game-winning shot in a 54-53 victory.
“When it happened I was so excited, but there was still some time on the clock so I was also trying to get everybody to get back on defense,” Wedel said. “Nolan did a great job of putting himself in a position to get the offensive rebound and make the game-winning shot.”
“Just super excited to play and help my team win,” said Adams, whose Mustangs won for the first time in seven tries. “Exciting especially with the flow of the game.”
It was his only bucket that game to go with 10 rebounds. He has scored six points as Macksville prepares for Monday’s game against Hodgeman County.
“Since he has been back, I feel like all the kids have just had an energy jolt. They’re all just excited to see him playing again and inspired by his perseverance and strength to make it back,” Wedel said. “I know personally seeing him continue to work his butt off each day has been inspiring to me and just shows how strong he is.”
Adams admits he’s “a little lucky I guess,” he said. “I view life as like very short now and that you don’t have any guarantees.”
2025 ended for Adams about as good as it could.
“The year I got cancer and beat it and hit a game winner just a couple months after beating it,” he said. “I’ve been healthy pretty much my whole life and they still don’t know what caused it.”
It doesn’t matter now.
The scoreboard of life beams a final score of Nolan 2, Cancer 0.
“Don’t stop fighting,” is his message to those fighting cancer.
