MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / June 30, 1999

RESERVE – Quinton Terrio has been playing basketball for almost as long as he can remember, playing in the Garyville Youth Organization before becoming a standout at Riverside Academy.

But a year and half ago, Terrio’s dream of continuing that career almost ended as he was diagnosed with patella tendinitis. Surgery was required,causing him to miss his senior year of basketball.

But through hard work and a determination to play again, Terrio did indeed return to the hard court. That hard work and determination paid offrecently as he received a scholarship to play basketball at Belhaven College.

Terrio chose Belhaven, a NAIA Division II in Jackson, Miss., overSoutheastern Louisiana, William Carey and Delgado.

“It’s a nice small college,” Terrio said. “It’s pretty laid back.”Terrio was one of three Louisiana players signed by third-year coach Tony Duckworth this year. Duckworth said Terrio will have the opportunity tocome in and start this season, working against another freshman for the starting spot.

“With the system we have offensively, Quinton is an outstanding fit for the four (power forward) position,” Duckworth said. “He makes gooddecisions in the open floor, is a good rebounder and has the ability to score.”Terrio developed his playmaking skills while playing guard early in his career. Terrio, who attended Riverside since kindergarten, played middleschool basketball before making the varsity in the eighth grade. He startedearly in his freshman year before the football team members returned and became a full-time starter his sophomore year.

Terrio averaged 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game that season. Hefollowed that up with 14.8 points and a team-high 9.6 rebounds per game his junior year.Terrio also competed in track as well as football and baseball for the Rebels. He won a gold medal in the high jump at the 1996 Junior Olympicsand set the school record in the event during his sophomore year.

Terrio began feeling pain in his right knee before his senior season. He satout the football season hoping he would be able to play basketball that season.

“The pain was unbearable,” Terrio said. “Basketball season came and itwasn’t getting any better.”Terrio had a decision to make. Riverside head coach John Whiterecommended he have the surgery and try to get a hardship from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

The decision to follow White’s advice showed the respect Terrio had for his coach.

“I always looked up to him,” Terrio said. “I respected him so much. He was always straight up with meand told me what was best for me.”Terrio had the surgery in December 1997 and went before the LHSAA Hardship Committee the following February. Terrio said he wasn’t too sureof his chances of getting an extra year of high school, saying that Riverside principal Barry Heltz could recall only one other incidence of a player getting a hardship.

“When I got it, Mr. Heltz said he had just witnessed a miracle,” Terriosaid.

Terrio first tested the knee during the 1998 summer league. He didn’t liftweights and said the knee felt good.

“I hoped it would make it through the season and it did,” Terrio said.

Terrio showed little effects of the injury during his senior year. Heaveraged 16.4 points per game in being named to the all-District 9-2Asquad and to the all-River Parishes for the third time.

In the process, Terrio helped the Rebels to their best season since joining the LHSAA. Riverside set a school record for wins and defeated St. CharlesCatholic in a tie-breaker to advance to the playoffs for the first time. Thevictory over the Comets was the Rebels first since 1995.

“Beating St. Charles in the playoff game was unbelievable,” Terrio said.”It was pretty much all storybook.”Terrio’s tale is not over yet. He reports to Belhaven in late August and hasbeen working out at Elmwood gym, knowing that he has to work out in order to compete at the next level. White believes Terrio will do just fine.”Belhaven is getting a real good player,” White said. “The word is mature.I have coached him for eight years and his maturity, that’s the main thing.

Belhaven is going to get a good one.”

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