For Stone: Chapin, Siegel put on one final show

PERKINS TWP. — As the buzzer sounded, Garrett Chapin pumped his fist, turned around from in front of the foul line and let out a scream. He was the last player from his team still on the floor. The Norwalk senior began to walk toward the top of the key and his celebrating teammates — and there he was, just one person directly in his path. "Like he was meant to be right there at that moment," Chapin said of Perkins senior Sam Siegel. The two players briefly shook hands, hugged twice and shared a few words. Celebrating an overtime win to claim a league championship wasn't important for those brief, but meaningful, 15 seconds. "That was bigger than just basketball," Siegel said. "That's friendship and love. It didn't matter what the score was or who did what for their team. That's family right there at that point. "They could have beat us by 20 or we could have beaten them, and that exact same thing would have happened." Two standout players and lifelong friends had just gone head-to-head one final time. Both players delivered impressive performances for their respective teams. Chapin scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had six assists in the 56-53 overtime win on Feb. 13 that gave the Truckers a share of the SBC Lake Division championship. Siegel did his best to deny his longtime friend with a game-high 24 points. But the efforts from both players weren't just for their teams or the satisfaction of individual success. "We all remember that day very clearly," Chapin said of May 10, 2018. "To be able to do this in this gym with those who were in attendance means a lot … I wouldn't want to picture it any other way." Life-changing moment The warm day itself was typical for the time of year at Norwalk High School. It was late in the spring, and a softball game was going on behind the school as AAU basketball went on inside the gym. Chapin, Siegel and Stone Ambos were among the players participating in scrimmages in an open gym atmosphere for the local Ohio Buckets AAU team. In one corner of the gym, Chapin was almost dreaming, finding himself being guarded in the left corner of the court by Jeff Thomas. As a grade-school student, Chapin can still picture where he sat in the upper corner of the NHS gym as he watched Thomas — a key player on two Division I NCAA Tournament teams at Georgia State — and his teammates blitz teams on their way to winning 57 straight games and the Division II state championship in 2014. At the other end of the floor, Siegel and Ambos were on the same team. Siegel watched as his Perkins classmate began to walk off the floor, only to collapse suddenly from a heart complication. He was rushed to nearby Fisher-Titus Medical Center, where he remained unresponsive. Ambos died early the next morning, May 11, 2018. He was just 15. After the entire AAU team attended Ambos' funeral, the grieving process went many different ways for those involved. Chapin spent the rest of his Norwalk career playing home games in the gym where it happened. Siegel lost a teammate and lifelong friend. He and his Pirate teammates pass a framed No. 25 jersey that serves as a memorial for Ambos every time they take the floor at Perkins High School. "My friendship with Garrett goes back to sixth grade, but Stone's passing made us a lot closer," Siegel said. "And not just Garrett, but that whole team. But with Garrett and I, it's different. "We always face each other twice a year in basketball and also football this year, and every time we always let each other know we're supporting each other and are doing it for Stone. We all think about him every day and have that connection that makes it really special." Garrett thinks of Ambos as the kid who could put you in a better mood — on a good or bad day. "He was a very hard worker in everything he did, but I also remember having tons of fun playing on the court and over on the football field as well," Chapin said. "He worked very hard, but really just wanted to put a smile on your face and make sure you were having a good day." For Siegel, he thinks about everything about his friend. "Stone was a goofy kid, but someone you knew would do anything for you," he said. "You could tell he was a one-of-a-kind kid. If you spent any time around him, you could see all the great things about him." Fitting finale From the moment Saturday's game tipped off at Perkins, Chapin's demeanor was different. Known for being a steady, reserved player both in his play and actions, Chapin was animated. He often yelled after a big basket or a big play. In timeouts he went by every teammate before sitting down, stressing the importance of finishing off the game — and a championship. Part of it was by design. Chapin admitted he wanted to show his teammates how much the game meant to him. "Because if they knew that, then they would follow that lead," he said. "I thought it was important to step up my leadership, especially during the times that we were kind of struggling there. I'm really proud of everybody — they all showed that they wanted it just as much." But it was also more than that. It was the last game against Siegel. A friendship that had grown even closer through an unspeakable tragedy. Mark Ambos, Stone's father, was also in attendance and spoke with Chapin briefly at halftime and when the game was over. "It's personally a lot to take in," Chapin said. "From the tragedy happening at Norwalk High School, then to be able to come here at Perkins in our last game there and clinch a league title in the way we did … that's very impactful to me. "Mark and Stone both know I always play for them," he added. "And this is certainly something that I will remember and carry with me forever." Just as impactful was seeing Siegel directly in front of him after the game. "We all play for Stone because he doesn't have the opportunity," Chapin said. "Sam and Stone were attached at the hip, and I know Sam leaves it all out there for him. It's something I respect him greatly for. "He played a great game and has had a great career, and his success is all because of the hard work that he puts in because of him playing for Stone," he added. "That's just all part of the brotherhood that I have with Sam and the group of guys that went through all of this on that AAU team together. There is nothing that will separate us." Push through for Stone It's impossible to quantify what kind of toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on anyone, yet alone high school kids and those involved in extracurricular activities. In-person learning and athletic events were canceled. Gone this year are student cheering sections or large crowds of any kind. Restrictions and protocols dominate the extracurricular scene in general. But for those close with Stone Ambos, there had already been past experiences to help them deal with life since March 2020. "Anything can be taken from you, and we unfortunately learned that with Stone's passing," Chapin said. "It's a challenge for everyone. It's just a blessing to be out there, and I honestly have to thank everyone who puts forth the effort so we can play games and have a sense of normalcy to each day." Siegel recalls the days and months after Ambos died. The Twitter hashtag "#StoneTough" has often served as a tribute, but Siegel said it offers a specific meaning that applies to this school year. "His tragedy made us all tougher mentally," Siegel said. "It just made us not give up on anything, like trying to live and play through a pandemic. We're all Stone Tough through it all. "I think his passing changed all of our lives, especially Garrett and I," he added. "It made us tougher and resilient to push through for him."