Lewisburg’s Sheffield achieves goal of 1,000 career points for his late father
LEWISBURG, Miss. (BVM) — On Jan. 21, the Lewisburg Patriots had one of their players achieve a goal many set out to do, but only a few accomplished in their career. Many were in attendance, but there was someone special looking down on Isaiah Sheffield that night.
A 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior guard, Sheffield entered the game only eight points shy of the 1,000-point mark. He would reach that milestone in the first quarter after hitting a pair of 3-pointers followed by a layup.
“It was cool to achieve this goal because I know my dad is still watching,” Sheffield said. “My dad and I set the goal about a year or two ago. It really started as a dream, but I started to score more and more and I started to realize it was a goal that could become reality.”
On Sheffield’s special day, Lewisburg defeated Strayhorn, 68-30.
Today, Isaiah is a competitor that works hard every day and makes sure that his team performs at the highest level possible. But that’s not always the way it used to be. When he was younger, he would get extremely nervous before any athletic competition. Isaiah’s dad changed that mentality when he wrote the Bible verse Isaiah 41:10 in his hat. That verse states, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
“Seeing him do that and reading that verse insured me with so much confidence,” Sheffield said. “I think that verse really speaks to everyone. God has a plan for everyone, so you got to go all in.”
When Isaiah steps out on the court, he and his teammates become a family.
“Everyone one knows each other well,” Sheffield said. “We become like one big family and everyone has a positive impact on each other.”
Nothing would be more important than family when tragedy struck last year. Sheffield’s father passed away on Dec. 26 after a seven-year battle with cancer, but he wouldn’t let that hold him back from reaching the goal they had set together.
“Although it feels like the world is ending, stay strong in the faith and trust in God,” Sheffield said.
Isaiah and his family went through three cancer diagnoses with his father. He was in grade school when his father received his first. After beating cancer once, his father would be diagnosed with cancer two more times. In a short time, Heath Sheffield had defeated cancer three times.
Word came that Heath had been diagnosed a fourth time, this time with the disease found in his spinal cord. It hadn’t been seen on the scans and it would be difficult for the doctors to complete surgery on it. The family felt different about the latest diagnosis, but everyone still remained strong, especially Isaiah’s mother.
“She was always stronger than the doctors,” he said. “She would write everything down in a notebook. She basically became a part-time nurse.”
When Isaiah heads off to college, he looks forward to majoring in nursing. He also has plans to participate in basketball.
Although he was able to complete his senior year of basketball, many others around the country were not able to finish out their high school careers. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the country, Isaiah is staying strong.
“Graduation isn’t canceled yet and as a Christian, the ability to stay home and get closer to God is a blessing,” Isaiah said.
As Isaiah looks ahead to his future athletic career at Holmes Community College, he shares some advice to those who may have experienced a similar tragedy.
“One thing I recommend is trust God through all things,” Sheffield said. “It may feel like the world is ending, but I know that he is no longer suffering. He is in heaven. Don’t think selfishly. They are moving on to something greater. Trust. Don’t be nervous and focus on now. Don’t worry about the future.”
