Post-accident return to court won't be easy one

Berlin Hiland's Dustin Kaufman will play in the state tournament today.
BERLIN (AP) -- A basketball standout severely injured in an accident last month that killed his father and grandmother has been cleared to play in this week's state high school tournament.
Dustin Kaufman, a two-time honorable mention on the Division IV All-Ohio team, practiced with his Berlin Hiland teammates this week. His playing time figures to be limited when the Hawks (22-4) face Georgetown (26-0) in the semifinals in Columbus today, his coach said.
The 6-foot-3 Kaufman, who lost 25 pounds during a three-week hospital stay, said he still becomes fatigued easily. But he's happy to be back.
Out of danger
"There's nothing better than hearing the doctor say you're going to be fine," he said. "They said I could take a hit [to the head] and nothing is going to happen, that I'm past the danger zone."
Doctors placed Kaufman in a coma to help reduce brain swelling following the Feb. 17 accident in which the sport utility vehicle that he was driving lost traction on a snowy road, slid left of center and hit a tractor-trailer. Besides killing his father and grandmother, his mother, two younger brothers and grandfather were hurt.
Community members and the basketball team in this town about 70 miles northeast of Columbus showed up at the hospital the night of the accident.
Teammate Joel Gause said players doubted whether Kaufman would return to the court.
"We expected him to be emotional, but he's refused to give up on basketball, and I think that's helped keep him going. When he came back, he wanted to start lifting weights right away so he could play again."
At practice Tuesday, Kaufman said he pushed himself to see what he could do.
Over anxious
"All day at practice, I'd almost catch myself breaking the rules of the doctors," Kaufman said. "They told me not to push myself 'til I'd fall down but there were times when I was tired and breathing hard and thinking if I want to play at all, I'll have to go harder.
"But then I'd think wiser and figure I don't want to go so hard my head starts hurting."
The headaches never occurred.
Coach Mark Schlabach said he expects to use Kaufman in short spurts today -- no more than two minutes at a time. Just having him back has given the team a lift, he said.
The Hawks are making their seventh trip to the state tournament, looking for their second state title. They won the championship in 1992.
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