Girls Basketball: Reilly Recovers From Knee Surgery and Takes on a New Role

The Cranston East girls basketball team was primed for success with two excellent ball handlers, sophomore Emely Ramirez and senior Erinn Reilly. Rich Glover, the Thunderbolts head coach, said he was looking forward to the season since they were playing so well together.

"What had excited me in the summer league games was how well that Emely and Erinn were playing together," he said, "They were sharing the point guard and shooting guard roll seamlessly."

But it would all change in the final summer league game. Cranston East was facing East Providence and the Bolts had the game wrapped up. There were three seconds left and Cranston East led by five points. The ball was inbounded to Reilly, who had to leap in the air to catch the pass. The Townies player fouled her, despite the game being over and East Providence having no chance to win the game.

"As I was in the air and jumping to the side, a girl put her hands on my lower back and pushed me forwards," Reilly said, "The angle at which my leg was and the way my body should have landed was way off and it popped."

Reilly had came off a pick and circled around, waiting for the inbounds pass. The girl had planned to foul her, even though it would not change the outcome of the game.

She felt the pain instantly and anticipated the worst. Reilly was hoping that her worst fears would not come true. "I had a feeling that I tore my ACL and I found out at the doctor’s office I tore my ACL and MCL," she said.

Reilly was disappointed and lost it in the doctor's office. "Immediately I broke down and was crying in the doctor’s office," she said, "It was supposed to be my final year of playing with the team that I have built a family with."

Reilly has been playing with co-captain Kelsy Evje since 5^th grade. The senior point guard has influenced this year's team from the sideline. She has proved to be a team player. "My first thought was my team and I was going to be there for them regardless if I can play or not," Reilly said.

The surgery was successful and there were no complications. Immediately after the surgery, she began attending physical therapy twice a week. She continues to do physical therapy for an hour and a half twice a week at University Orthopedics. Strength and conditioning are the two main areas of focus for the doctors.

The good news for Reilly is there have been no setbacks. She is on schedule for full recovery, which will be either in April or May.

She has been able to participate in the practices, in a limited role.

"I am back to running drills, I can do lay up lines, but I can’t do anything with contact," she said. Reilly is able to shoot jump shots, but is unable to sprint.

Despite being sidelined and unable to perform the way she'd like, her role on the team hasn't diminished.

"I was pleasantly surprised when the coaches pulled me aside and went over situational things during the games," she said,  "The silver lining was I got to be a student of the game."

The senior point guard said she is learning how to motivate players without being in the game and she knows it is completely different than if she were playing. She has essentially become a volunteer assistant coach for the team.

Reilly has learned what a coach goes through on a daily basis.

"It’s not just dealing with players and their different talents," she said, "You also have to deal with all of the different personalities."

Her future plans include attending Rhode Island College and playing for women's basketball coach Marcus Reilly.

"They were there the night that I got hurt, which I felt was a sign and that they were meant to be my team," Reilly said. "It seems they are the school that’s going to take the best care of me, my health, my injury, and my education."

When Glover first found out about the injury, he was severely disappointed for the team and for Reilly, because it was her senior year.

"She was one of the co-captains going into the year and we knew right away we wanted her to continue an active role," he said, "She is still a leader on the bench during the games."

Glover concurred with Reilly, that she has taken upon the role as an assistant coach.

"She’s almost like having another assistant coach because she has a number of years experience playing basketball and she still loves the game," he said.

He said that Erinn encourages and motivates the girls during the games and pulls them aside to give them instructions.

"She is well respected by her teammates and is a leader through her actions and words," Glover said.

Glover said that in the few summer leagues Reilly played, she showed excellent shooting skills and a genuine love for the game.

"That’s why it was such a tragedy for her," Glover said.

He said the biggest adjustment for the team was the transition period from having two pure ball handlers to only one, due to Reilly's injury.

"We thought we were going in with two very strong guards and ball handlers," he said, "Erinn’s loss is a big one for us."

The Thunderbolts head coach expressed that he hopes to see her play in college. "I will remember that she came faithfully to games and practices even though she could not play and she was very supportive of the girls," he said.

The coach said that she has met his expectations and even exceeded them. "She’s been terrific in the captain/volunteer assistant coach role too," Glover added.

Reilly has verbally committed to Rhode Island College and is committed to her physical therapy, in order to regain her full health. She has shown pure dedication to the team all season long and has done everything she can to help the team. In the end,  the injury could serve as a blessing in disguise, giving her the chance to mature as a player because of her perspective from the sideline.