HENRY COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) – On Friday two neighboring counties took time to mourn together one day after a teen died in a car crash.
The grief, but also the sense of unity, was on full display at the Shelby County versus Henry County High School basketball game.
Before the game both teams and the crowd stopped for a moment of silence in honor of Blake Palmer.
“When you lose a child in the community it’s a rough thing,” said Snake Bruns, who knows the Palmer family.
Palmer remains on the minds of many in both counties. The Shelby County High School junior and rising baseball star died when his car wrecked near Shelbyville.
“He was a really good kid… really smart and friendly to everyone,” said student Erica Bratcher.
“Never in a bad mood, even if he was having a bad game. He was always a happy kid,” said Bruns.
Henry County High School students and staff put rivalry aside to show compassion for their grieving neighbors on Friday.
“We originally had it planned as a white out because it’s our homecoming week. End of the day, we said everyone wear blue, and every student I’ve seen so far is wearing blue,” said Henry County High School teacher Alex Harrison.
For what could be the first time in this match-up, you could hardly tell one team’s fans from the other.
“It means a lot, it helps these kids start to heal,” said Bruns.
