After Avery Bradley and Cedric Maxwell finished at the Dill house, the basketball players went to Monson High School, to teach a basketball clinic to the kids participating in the summer basketball program sponsored by the town Parks and Recreation Department.
MONSON - It was a dream come true for Boston Celtics fan Russell J. Kearns on Tuesday.
Ten-year-old Russell, whose favorite sports team is the Celtics, was treated to a visit from Celtics guard Avery Bradley and retired forward Cedric Maxwell at his Main Street home.
As part of the visit, he now has a new basketball court in his driveway, and a bedroom makeover, courtesy of the team and RE/MAX of New England.
It was Kearns' mother, Stacey E. Dill, who entered an essay contest for the home court makeover. She described what the family went through after the tornado blasted through their home more than a year ago.
Surrounded by a crush of media and friends - most of whom were made after the tornado - the Dill family talked about what the event meant to them.
"It's so exciting. At this point I can barely contain myself," Dill said.
"He's just trying to take it all in. He's got a smile as big as I do," she said about her son.
When Dill's friend, Karen King, founder of the Monson Street Angel tornado volunteer team and local RE/MAX Realtor, suggested she enter the contest, Dill at first thought she didn't deserve it.
"But my kids sure do," said the mother of four and grandmother of one. "They've had a tough year."
In the essay, Dill wrote about how the family huddled in the first floor laundry room as the tornado tore through town, pushing their chimney through the roof, blowing out windows and doors, and toppling trees. She said they hauled wood and painted to restore their property and home, and when their workload lightened, two of her daughters joined volunteer crews to help others still recovering from the twister.
"They inspired me to write my essay for the contest," said Dill, a lifelong Celtics fan.
She also wrote that her son always wanted a basketball hoop.
Her husband, Matthew Dill, was in awe that the family won the contest.
"I thought the volunteers who helped us out after the tornado were just unreal. This is just the icing on the cake," Matthew Dill said.
"This is amazing. I've never won anything before. I can't really ask for anything more than this," he added.
Through the home court makeover, their uneven driveway was repaved, and a new basketball hoop and electronic scoreboard was installed. Russell tried it out, taking shots as Maxwell encouraged him.
"That was close, Russell. Keep going," Maxwell urged.
Russell nailed his second shot in the basket.
After the fanfare on the new "court" which included the players signing autographs and posing for photographs, they headed inside the house and upstairs to Russell's room, now decorated in true Celtics style with a team bedspread, bean bag chair, wastepaper basket, clock, pillows, and wall decorations. The players signed the Boston Celtics logo on the wall, and Bradley presented Russell with a team jersey.
"Look what I got just for you, a signed jersey," Bradley told Russell. "This is just for you. Now you can wear it every game you watch."
Stacey Dill sported the "family" jersey that the Celtics gave her - it has the name "Dill" on the back. The entire family, Stacey and Matthew Dill, Russell, and his sisters, Chelsea Fountain, 23; Haley Fountain, 16; Allyson Kearns, 14; and Chelsea's son, Rhys Pelles, 1, posed for photographs with Bradley and Maxwell.
Russell revealed that he thought his mother was kidding at first when she told him they won the contest.
"I didn't think something like that would ever happen," Russell said.
King said a lot has been done for the adult tornado victims over the past year, and noted this was something for the children.
After Bradley and Maxwell finished at the Dill house, they went to Monson High School, to teach a basketball clinic to the kids participating in the summer basketball program sponsored by the town Parks and Recreation Department.
Bradley was limited in what he could do on the court, as he is recovering from shoulder surgery after getting hurt in the playoffs. Before the clinic got underway,
Bradley, 21, said this was one of the "coolest events" he's ever done.
"It was great to be here today. It was a great experience, seeing the smiles . . . Whenever I see a smile on somebody's face, it makes me happy. That's what I'm here for," Bradley said.
The identity of the Celtics players was kept secret, so as to surprise the approximately 25 third- to ninth-graders in the basketball camp.
When Maxwell's name was announced, someone yelled, "Dunk it!" Maxwell led a humorous defensive drill involving five of the mothers, who he told to get "low" and jump and yell.
"I don't think I'd make a good basketball player," one of the mothers, Jessica Buchanan, who has two children in the camp, said after.
As Maxwell instructed the kids â and the Dill family - about defense, Alana Ellis, the youngest basketball camp participant, was recruited to stand with him and Bradley.
"I'm ready to go!" Alana yelled.
Tim Gerry, who coaches the basketball program, said the kids were excited all week for the Celtics visit.
"It's good for the town and good for the program," Gerry said.