THUNDER BAY – It was supposed to be Katelyn Andrea’s triumphant return to the hard court, after a year on the sidelines nursing a badly broken foot.
Instead she’ll likely miss a second straight season.
Andrea, one of Jon Kreiner’s top weapons, suffered a potentially devastating left knee injury on Thursday night, crashing to the floor, where she lay writhing in agony, five minutes into an exhibition tilt against the visiting Winnipeg Wesman.
“No, no, no no,” she cried, gripping her injured knee.
Reality set in quickly for coach Kreiner and the rest of the Lakehead Thunderwolves, knowing they’ll likely compete the rest of the way without a player expected to contribute heavily to the team's success in 2017-18.
“I feel pretty bad for her,” Kreiner said. “The poor kid broke her foot at the beginning of the season last year and didn’t get to play. She was really ready for this season and was probably ready to be our best player this year, both offensively and defensively rebound-wise.
“She was the person who was going to guard all our top match-ups. The poor kid started off well out there and I think it really affected us out there tonight.”
Kreiner said the extent of the injury isn’t yet known, but it doesn’t look good.
It’s just devastating, said teammate Jerika Baldin, who worked out all summer with Andrea, a St. Ignatius High School graduate who in 2015-16 showed signs of becoming an OUA star.
“We push each other so much and the reason we’re at this level is because of each other,” said Baldin. “Last year when (the injury) happened it killed us. It killed me for sure because we play really well together.
“We were really in the flow of things, up 8-2, up 11-4 and then it happened. It was really hard to see. I know she really worked her butt off and she’ll come back if she can. It’s just unfortunate.”
Replacing Andrea won’t be easy, Baldin acknowledged, after the Wolves pulled away late to edge the Wesmen 65-56.
“We have a really good culture, a really good family on this team. We have each other’s back, so that’s good. It will pull us together through this tough time. We have a deep team, which is good too,” Baldin said. “Everyone can play, everyone can step in.”
The two likeliest candidates are sophomore Lily Gruber-Schulz and fourth-year forward August Ricketts.
Both showed Thursday night they might be up for the task.
Gruber-Schulz, who hails from Grand Marais, Minn., hit double digits with 10 points, grabbing five boards, while Ricketts scored six points and added seven rebounds.
Of course, there’s also NCAA transfer Leashja Grant, who made her debut against the Wesmen.
Still working her way into basketball shape, the Bahamian forward scored a game-high 22 points and hauled in 15 rebounds.
The best is yet to come, Grant said.
“It was average,” she said. “I’m pretty out of shape, so I’m trying to readjust and get back to the old Lee-Lee. It’ll take a couple of weeks. I’ll be ready.”
Antoinette Miller, the U Sports defensive player of the year last season, led Winnipeg with 18 points. Faith Hezekiah had 17, matching Grant with 15 boards.
The two teams will tip off again on Friday night.
