NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) -- The Menchville High School boys basketball team took the court against Phoebus High Tuesday night.
It was the first game for Menchville since their head coach, Ben Moore, died unexpectedly over the weekend. The team and the coaching staff played Tuesday in his honor. They took a moment of silence before their game on the road.
Menchville High School's hallways are draped with his name.
"He always has a smile. He's always upbeat," said J Grimes, the assistant coach.
Coach Ben Moore's infectious nature has clearly rubbed off on this school.
Coach Moore collapsed at a former player's funeral over the weekend. He died shortly after.
Ahmaad Goldson, the team captain, was just at practice with Coach Moore Saturday before all of this happened.
"It just put me in full shock," he said.
Days later, it still doesn't feel real.
"Just to get that news, it's like...man, what am I going to do now?" said Goldson.
"He's a fighter and he never gives up so I know he fought every last second," said Grimes.
Ahmaad and Coach Grimes considered their late coach a father figure, a man who impacted the team, as well as the Newport News Public Schools.
He was a teacher and coach for nearly three decades.
The district said, "His unexpected death has left a void in the Newport News Public Schools family."