Minnetonka basketball coach Tom Dasovich went to his bench about four minutes into Tuesday’s game against Rosemount, putting his nerves aside to summon senior Larry Rice.

Rice needed open-heart surgery in August, a procedure that forced him to miss football season. Complications required a second hospital stay. And he didn’t start attending classes at school until October. But he made good on his plan to play basketball, even if doing so left Dasovich a bit unsettled.

“I double- and triple-checked with his doctors and family,” said Dasovich, in his first season with the Skippers. “But they said he could play.”

Understandably cautious, Dasovich planned to play Rice, a point guard, in “two-minute bursts” and 10-15 minutes total. Instead, Rice played about 20 minutes, contributing two points and solid defense. With Rice’s help, Minnetonka erased a 15-point halftime deficit and led by one point with four minutes remaining. The Skippers lost 61-57, but Rice attainted a personal victory.

“It was such a good feeling to be able to compete again,” Rice said via text message. “Just thinking about where I was three months ago, I just feel really blessed to be able to play again.”

Dasovich said Rice experienced “bigger hurdles in practice” in terms of getting accustomed to contact and running hard. Tuesday night’s game action, the coach said, was more about excitement.

“He’s like the Pied Piper,” Dasovich said. “Kids are drawn to him. Having him back was inspirational.”

Rice was diagnosed with an anomalous right coronary artery. Rice's condition, which can limit blood flow to the heart muscle, is rare and potentially fatal.

On Tuesday he wore a chest pad sewn into his jersey for added protection.

“He’s not playing as a charity case,” Dasovich said. “We want to play him because he gives us a chance to win. He’s earned it. All we told him was, ‘Don’t try to be a hero during the first month or so. Let us know if anything feels weird.’ And he’s mature enough to understand.”