Girls Basketball Notes
Lake Central top scorer rehabbing from knee surgery in May
Lake Central’s Taylor Jaksich loves to sing and dance.
“I’m not very good at singing, but I do try to entertain people,” she laughed. “I have some really good dance moves, though.”
The only footwork the senior guard might be doing for the next few months, however, will occur primarily on the stationary bike and in the school pool.
Jaksich is still rehabbing her left knee following reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL and torn meniscus, which were surgically repaired May 10 at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
The injury happened in the final regular-season game against South Bend St. Joseph when Jaksich tried to save a ball, but her leg gave out, and she fell.
“I didn’t think it was anything serious at first,” she said. “I even went back in the game later and I couldn’t feel any pain, so I thought I was fine. When I woke up the next morning, though, I couldn’t even move. The pain was so bad, I couldn’t even put my sock on.”
Her visit to a doctor who prefers non-invasive surgery, led to Jaksich just rehabbing the injury, before she sought a second opinion from a doctor who discovered complete reconstructive surgery was needed.
Jaksich, who led her team in scoring with a 12.5 average, expects to return in late October.
“Unfortunately, all parties involved were under the impression Taylor would be back for AAU and summer ball,” Lake Central coach Joe Huppenthal said. “To be honest, I was skeptical. On May 3, Taylor came to my office and said, ‘Coach, I’ve got bad news.’ I said, ‘Let me guess, you need surgery.’ To an extent, I was relieved. First, for her welfare, and I thought it would be good for her mentally and physically.’’
Huppenthal believes all the rehab Jaksich did prior to surgery could expedite her return, and so does Jaksich.
“I’ll be back, and I feel I should be better, if anything,” she said. “It’s going to be a lot of training and everything.
“Every day I go to therapy, the gym, and swim. I ride the bike five to 10 miles, do weight work like curls, biceps, and bench press. Doing rehab more motivates me to be ready quicker.”
The Cougars will be at the University of Wisconsin team camp this weekend. They’ve previously been to camps at Tennessee State and Wright State.
“We’ve been busy with team camps, in the gym, or at Miller Beach,” Butler said. “It’s been good. It’s been fun. We’ve held them accountable. They know they really must be committed if they want to go to college, and 90% do, so we emphasize working even harder.”
Butler plans a trip to the Dells on the return from Wisconsin.
“We’ve worked well, so we’re going to end well,” she said.
“She was released for full contact in mid-May, has been playing great, and has no restrictions at this point,” coach Chris Seibert said.
Abby’s sister, Lilly, received a scholarship offer from Purdue when the Bulldogs competed at the school’s team camp last weekend.
Star sophomore point guard Jessica Carrothers, named an Adidas All-American, participated in the Adidas All-American Camp in Los Angeles, from June 23-25, as one of only 50 girls invited nationally.
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