Brian “Yogi” Dennis was living his dream a few weeks ago, playing professional basketball just a few miles from where he went to high school, when everything came screeching to a halt.

And Dennis couldn’t imagine a better reason why.

With a newborn – daughter Layla arrived in September – the 1998 Meadowdale High School graduate had to put the International Basketball League on hold and resume his role as a stay-at-home dad.

That was in April, when Dennis left the expansion Everett Explosion to dedicate all of his time to fatherhood.

Earlier this week, Dennis got a call from his former coach and decided it was time to get back on the court. Playing in his first game since April 14 – he had picked up a basketball only one other time during the eight weeks in between – Dennis re-joined the Explosion and made a major contribution off the bench in Everett’s most impressive win of the season on June 7.

He scored four points, added five rebounds and provided a bulky presence in the middle as the injury-depleted Explosion shocked Eastern Conference favorite Elgin 122-114 at the Everett Events Center.

“Having Brian Dennis back was a big plus,” head coach Randy Redwine said of the 6-foot-7 center. “He’s still trying to get back into shape, so I can’t play him the whole game. But if I can get five to six minutes from him in a stretch, it helps us immensely.”

The Explosion (13-4) has won eight of 10 games but is trying to overcome injuries to starters Rashaad Powell (knee) and Darrell Walker (groin).

Dennis, along with recent acquisition Josh Reisman at point guard, is among those who hope to keep filling that void.

Dennis played with the team for three games in April before giving up his dream to help take care of Layla. He called it a financial decision.

“I had to get the family situation straight,” Dennis said. “I had to paint a couple houses on the side to make it work.”

Redwine completely understood Dennis’s decision at the time.

“Making $50 per week isn’t going to put food on the table,” the coach said of Dennis’s IBL salary.

So, Redwine gave Dennis his blessing to move on with his life. But after seeing Dennis attend a game as a fan 11 days ago, Redwine could tell he was interested in coming back.

And so when the injuries began to mount, he gave Dennis a call.

The former Meadowdale and Western Washington University player had to clear it with his wife first, and Jennifer Dennis had no problem with him returning to the court. She said he never complained about having to quit in the first place, so she didn’t mind if he gave his basketball career another shot.

“He was great about it,” Jennifer Dennis said of her husband’s April decision to quit the team. “He wasn’t a poor sport at all. He was just enjoying (Layla).”

During the hiatus, Brian Dennis played only one game of basketball and didn’t do much in the weight room. The only lifting he did was with Layla. “I’ve been lifting my heavy daughter every day,” he said.

Now Brian Dennis is back and ready to help lead the Explosion into the playoffs.

“It’s been fun,” Jennifer Dennis said. “It’s always a pleasure watching him play.”

With Dennis playing valuable minutes off the bench, the team made a huge statement to the entire league by beating the leaders of the Midwest Division. While Redwine has been preaching all season about his desire to stay under the radar, even he had to admit that the win over Elgin was an eye-opener.

“Right now, we’ve been discovered,” he said immediately after his team led for the final 191/2 minutes before pulling away for an eight-point victory over the Racers. “I think it’s going to be something different for us now.

“With these guys performing the way they did (Thursday), when I asked them to step up with some guys missing, I feel like we can play with anyone.”

Scott M. Johnson writes for The Herald in Everett.