While battling cancer, Heritage High basketball star hits big shot in final career game

LEESBURG, Va. (7News) — Heritage High School girls' basketball team is hovering around the .500 record, but they're undefeated in memorable moments. We all know the famous Rocky Balboa from his fights with Ivan Drago and Apollo Creed, but this is a Rocky story you've never seen before.

Rocky Elardo is a senior at Heritage High School with a love and passion for basketball. Unfortunately, Ewing's Sarcoma --- a rare form of bone cancer--- has taken away Rocky's playing availability since the eighth grade.

"I've had cancer four times, so I've done treatment three out of those four times," Elardo added. "It was really hard living in a hospital. I think you had to be mentally strong."

Even while absent from the team, Rocky was still able to motivate and inspire her fellow teammates.

Throughout her treatments, Elardo's teammates and coaches at Heritage High continued their unwavering support.

One of her teammates, sophomore guard Rachel Stewart has a lot of respect and admiration for Rocky's mental toughness.

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"She's always been like that role model for me I guess because every time I see her she's always making me laugh no matter what she's been through for that day," said Stewart.

After nearly a five-year absence from basketball activity, Elardo finally got her shot during senior night at Heritage High as they hosted Rock Ridge.

With the stage set, and anticipation in the gym climaxing with loud cheers from fans, Elardo stepped on the court for one last possession in her high school basketball career.

As the cheers grew louder from the fans, Elardo caught a pass, but she selflessly passed it to another teammate. With the play set for Elardo to get her shot, the guard curled around a ball screen to get a clean look in the final and biggest shot of the game, regardless of the final score or outcome of the contest.

"I just wanted to play like my one possession," Elardo said.

Elardo's long three-pointer finds the bottom of the net, everyone jumped out of their seats to celebrate the culmination of Rocky continuing to battle bone cancer for this moment.

"Sometimes you just know it's going in, like, you can just feel it. I was like 'oh my gosh this is going to go in,'" Elardo said after her big shot.

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Otto Jett, Heritage High girls' basketball head coach was taken aback following the basket.

"I got very emotional, which I am now because she fought, she fought hard," said head coach Jett.

Rocky landing a big shot isn't anything new, but this one feels a bit more special than the others. Elardo is currently in remission with another scan scheduled for March.