See: Court Rushed After 'We Want Stewy' Chanters Get Their Wish

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin High School senior Stewy Thalblum gets to school around 7:30 a.m., spends 2½ hours at baseball practice after school wraps up at 3:30 p.m., swings by basketball practice and gets home by 9:15 p.m. It's a long day for anyone, but it's an especially long day considering Thalblum volunteers his time as the basketball team manager.

But last week — after four years of hearing peers chant "We want Stewy!" from the bleachers — Thalbum stepped off of the sidelines and onto the court during a game against Livermore High School, scoring a three-pointer from the student section side of the court.

"There was a stillness in the gym while that ball was in the air," said Coach Tom Costello. "Once it went in, it was pandemonium."

Students rushed the court. A lot of them.

"Next thing you knew, I had a hundred kids surrounding me," Thalblum said. "That was easily probably one of the best moments of my ... high school life."

Thalblum said he loves basketball, but decided not to try out for the school team his freshman year because he felt his height would be an issue. He went for baseball, but still wanted to be involved with the basketball team.

So Thalblum reached out to the basketball team and became its manager, helping the team practice, keep stats and getting them what they need.

"I love my teammates in both sports and so I wouldn't ever want to let one of those go," he said. "It doesn't feel like work at all, those guys make it easy for me to want to be there every day."

The "We want Stewy!" chant was born during a game Thalblum's freshman year, when a group of teammates' friends started calling for him to play after the Dublin High team had secured a solid lead.

"I looked over and was like, 'Wait, they're chanting my name?" he said.

The chant became a tradition at games where Dublin High had a significant lead over opponents. Opponents even joined in on occasion.

Thalblum is the most excited person on the bench during games, Costello said. He sends inspirational messages before games in the team group chat and is always looking to help the team improve. It's remarkable to work with someone who is so committed, yet expects nothing in return, he said.

"He does everything for our team, as part of our team, except play," Costello said.

One week, Coach Costello decided to give the fans what they wanted.

When Costello floated the idea by his team, they were more enthusiastic than Costello, he said. Costello secretly approached Thalblum's parents to get paperwork started.

"The hardest part was keeping it secret," said mother Janine Thalblum.

"We just couldn't stop grinning."

Costello ordered Thalblum a jersey and made the big reveal in front of the team.

"The kids just mobbed him," he said.

Days later, with two minutes left in the third quarter of Friday's game, the chants came, Costello said. He sent Thalblum into the locker room to change.

The crowd roared when he stepped out in uniform, Costello said. The team huddled and Thalblum took to the court for the first time in four years.

He missed a few shots at first, but his teammates did everything they could to get him the ball, district spokesperson Chip Dehnert said. The Livermore High team graciously stayed out of the way.

The room erupted when Thalblum drained the shot.

"It was just pure exuberance from everyone," Mrs. Thalblum said. "I was just bursting with happiness for my son and the student body and the players who wanted this so badly."

Thalblum said he didn't even notice the excitement at first, focused on the game. He turned, jogged down the court, then turned around again to find his baseball teammates in his face.

It was "genuine, raw, pure enjoyment and excitement for another classmate," Costello said.

Thalblum and brother Jon, a sophomore on the junior varsity basketball team, swapped jerseys after the game.

"It was a storybook finish," Mrs. Thalblum said.

As Thalblum eyes graduation, he said he hopes to study business or sports business in college, and work toward becoming the general manager of a sports team.

Ever the team player, Thalblum thanked his teammates, coaches, family and friends for making the moment so special.

"It's something I'll never forget," he said. "It's something I'll look back on."

Watch the moment here:

More Tri-Valley news:

• Family of teen drowned in PE gets $8M settlement
• Livermore local kills man, leads pursuit to Dublin, police say
• Strike possible in San Ramon Valley schools