Coach says outlook is optimistic despite loss of key player
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The more damaging loss for the Big Foot girls basketball team last week wasn’t a non-conference setback to Sussex Hamilton.
It came in the form of a torn ACL to the knee of one of the Chiefs’ best players.
Junior Courtney Schoenbeck, Big Foot’s top returning scorer and rebounder from a year ago and a first-team, All-Rock Valley Conference selection, suffered the injury with about two minutes left in the Chiefs’ 55-45 loss at Brookfield Central.
Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck, Courtney’s father, said the injury to her left knee came without contact as she ran down the court.
While he wasn’t certain what the outlook was, Schoenbeck knows his daughter – and the team – is in for a big of an uphill climb.
“Unfortunately, (it) can be six months of rehab,” he said. “We will know more after seeing (a specialist). Just devastating news when she has been playing so strong. She will be extremely hard to replace.
“This news is just a total shock to us. Basketball is just a game, (but) I tell all the girls that I coach that is a microcosm of life – training, dedication, teamwork, education and hard work. We as people are challenged every day, and the character of a person is truly found on how we handle these obstacles that are put in front of us.”
Schoenbeck knows the injury will present some challenges for his daughter moving forward, but he added he’s confident she’ll be able to bounce back.
“Courtney is an amazing young lady,” he said. “I as her dad and coach could not be more proud of her and her accomplishments, her dedication and hard work.
“Her dream to play at the next level will not be set back by this, and she will come back as strong as ever. I do not know anyone with as big a heart and love for the game. Together, we will persevere and overcome this challenge.”
Free throws a difference
On the court, Hamilton built a 32-24 lead at halftime and held on from there for the 10-point win.
Hamilton was 17-for-23 from the free-throw line, compared to 6-for-14 for Big Foot – but that was just one factor in the loss, Schoenbeck said.
“(They) were a very good shooting team with multiple screening sets that really made our defense work,” he said. “They had size over us and kept us under pressure with tight defense and constant full-court pressure. They had many scoring options.”
Courtney Schoenbeck and Zanzie Demco each scored 11 points to lead the Chiefs (2-1), while Olivia Briggs had nine and Brooke Wellhausen had seven.
Big Foot opened RVC action Tuesday night at Beloit Turner. The Chiefs return home Friday for a conference battle with Brodhead.
Schoenbeck said he remains confident in what his team can accomplish.
“We can play with any team in the state,” he said. “This will make us better for conference games by handling presses, defending true post players and being guarded tightly by teams with deep benches.
“(Through three games), I have learned what each girl can contribute and combinations who work well on the court. The speed and physical play will help us seem faster against some conference foes.”
