This was simply turning out to be a breakout senior year for North Shore's Monique Bedford who came into her own this season. Playing in one of the hardest gyms for opposing teams to win a game, she scored 30 points in a two point loss to Bellaire on the Cardinals home court. What was significant about the game was All American Courtney Williams was injured early in the second period and Bedford placed the team on her back for a fight to the very end. After earning MVP honors in the Peggy Whitley Classic and helping lead North Shore to the championship, it was learned Bedford had a torn ACL and this puts a damper on any state hopes the Mustangs had
Klein Collins received a boost when Jasmine Nash was cleared to play after transferring from Westfield and that boost was turbo-charged when Lexus Ward was cleared less than two weeks ago. These additions gave Collins depth to go along with Veja Hamilton and Dominique Dillingham along with being a legitimate candidate for a Region 2 championship however Ward tore her ACL two minutes into her first game.
In order to compete for a state championship several things have to fall into place and injuries to key players such as Hightower's Taylor Gilbert and Atascocita's Curtyce Knox, who has returned, have certainly changed the scope on who could have done what. As sad as it is for these young ladies, along with several others across the city, state and country, the USC saga is one of the worst cases of bad breaks I've ever heard of
Former Cinco Ranch star Stephanie Gilbreath was one of the top players in the Claas of 2007. She first tore her ACL in middle school and after signing with USC has torn it an additional three times. This hurt what was set to be a brilliant career for the Trojans however the former MDAA, she tore it a second time at this event, showed so much fight and courage by continuing to come back in spite of these obstacles
Like Gilbreath, Jackie Gemelos had a star studded high school career and was also one of the top players from her class which was 2006. Initially deciding on UCONN, Gemelos had a change of heart and picked USC. Last Sunday, the young lady tore her ACL for the FIFTH time
I've seen first hand on what this does to a player and depending on how quickly you come back, the rehabilitation process process can be grueling along with the mental aspect of worrying about being hurt once you actually do return to the court. Again it's sad for all of the players that have to endure this, especially those with nothing on the table after playing for years, but you can't give up hope and like Knox, you have to keep looking up.
