Update: Girlfriend says Leonard was being treated for strep throat

Update: Autopsy determines Fennville star athlete Wes Leonard died from heart attack

FENNVILLE – One week before Wes Leonard led his Fennville High School basketball team to a regular season-capping 20-0 record, the 16-year-old junior stayed home from school because he was sick.

Leonard, who hit an overtime layup to win Thursday night's game against Bridgman, told the Kalamazoo Gazette last week that he'd been battling the flu.

“Sickness got to us a little bit,” Leonard told the Gazette after a win over Bangor.

Leonard, who died at Holland Hospital, was the star player on a team that coach Ryan Klinger told the Press last month “have a special bond between them.”

“From top to bottom, this is one of the best teams I've been able to coach,” Klingler said then. “Our bench is awfully good during the game with their energy, and, if you look at really good teams, that's what they have.”

Fennville was ranked No. 6 in the lastest Associated Press Class C poll.

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“We have eight or nine guys playing (a lot), but we still have 13 guys on the team, and they are buying into being positive and supportive and playing whatever role is called upon,” Klingler said.

Senior starter Adam Siegel said the squad is a close-knit group that strives for one common goal.

"No one is selfish, " he said. "No one cares who scores the most or who takes the shots. Everyone is comfortable with each other and everyone knows their job.

"When practice is over, we all hang out. We're best friends"

Before the season started, Leonard, also a standout quarterback at the high school, was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason player of the year by the Gazette, a sister paper of the Press.

E-mail Nate Reens: nreens@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/natereens