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BELHAVEN, N.C. — Except for her family and friends sitting nearby in the stands, there wasn’t a lot of fanfare when Allison Sawyer returned to the basketball court.

However, it didn’t take long for people to see how important her return was for the Pungo Christian Academy Raiders.

The senior was allowed to play for the first time on Dec. 5 against Parrott Academy after getting a clean bill of health from her doctor. Last January, she tore the ACL in her right knee. That ended her basketball season and any chances of playing on the school’s softball team.

Now, she’s back and providing a big boost for the Raiders.

“She’s been in every single practice and game prior to being able to play,” Rouse said. “And so I think for her, she’s been a part of the team even when she couldn’t be on the floor. And so that has really made a difference. She’s already been there and so then just being able to be released to play is that final piece of getting on the court.

“And so she gives us more options on offense and defense, and we appreciate having that a lot.”

Sawyer spoke about the injury, recovery and how she wants to make an impact during her senior season.

1. So tell me about the injury and recovery process, what you did, how you were able to come back and perform like you were doing before.

“So back in January, I was playing a basketball game and we were in the middle of a fast break, and I jumped up for a pass and when I jumped up, I heard my knee pop and stuff. I lost support and I just fell to the ground.

Of course, I knew what happened because it was … this is my second time all this has happened. So I knew what had happened, I was definitely upset and then I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t ACL or anything, it was something very minor. Then I had surgery in April and after several, several long months of physical therapy, I finally got back to more agility-like exercises.”

2. How did you face that adversity? One ACL tear is bad but to have it happen to both knees.

“It was definitely hard, but I kept like my faith very strong, and I kept praying and praying for God to help me to get through it again because I knew I did it once, I could get through it again. I just tried to stay optimistic through everything, and a whole bunch of people were encouraging me through everything. So that kind of boosted my spirit a little bit.”

3. Did you have a timetable from far out that last Thursday would be it? They just kind of come up and, oh, by the way, you can do something?

“It was, my surgeon told me that it was about eight months post-surgery, so I was counting down the days. And then, yeah, I went back at eight months and he was like, ‘Yeah, we should be fine with it. Then I played the next day.

 

 

 

 

Allison Sawyer’s presence was felt quickly in Pungo Christian Academy’s game on Dec. 5. She scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half as Pungo rallied to beat Parrott Academy. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

4. Do you feel more comfortable remembering your first injury as far as the adjustment period? Do you feel like you’re coming through better now this second time around?

“I would still say it’s kind of more of like a lack of confidence, like trying to build up that confidence again. I know I don’t need to ever overdo it, but like I’m still trying as hard as I possibly can. There is still kind of that fear in the back of my mind, like ‘What if I fall, what if I like twist it wrong.’ … But yeah, it’s been a journey trying to build up that confidence again, not only just in basketball but like with everything else.”

5. Do you feel like that’s a, I don’t want to say it’s a positive experience, but it’s been an experience that’s helped you in a lot of ways. I guess in some ways you’re sort of gradually getting to that point where you feel more and more confident.

“Yeah, I feel like ever since, like at the beginning of the season when I started practicing, I’m just like, ‘Kind of take it easy,’ but then as soon as I got cleared, I was like, ‘All right, I have to kind of step up and be more of like a team leader and not really let my knee bother me and like hinder me from being the player and the leader I know I can be.

“So I’m just kind of trying to push it out and kind of focus on like what I have to do for my team to make them like to make this the best we can be.”