Etiwanda girls basketball coach Anders Anderson admits he has been lucky in his coaching career that he hasn’t had to deal with many significant injuries at crucial times. But the Eagles are a bit hobbled at the moment.
One game after a convincing upset of Mater Dei, the Eagles were handled in an Open Division quarterfinal by Chaminade 82-54. Three players departed that game early, most notably senior point guard Dominique McLaughlin who severely sprained an ankle on the first play of the game under the Etiwanda basket.
McLaughlin, the team’s leading scorer and floor captain, tried to come back twice but was eventually carried off the floor after the game.
She did not play on Saturday in a 54-43 loss to Serra in a consolation quarterfinal and is likely done for the season, according to Anderson.
Senior Alize Williams aggravated an existing knee injury against Chaminade and tried to play against Serra but had to come out of the game early too.
The injuries had a definite effect as the Eagles lost to a team they defeated during the regular season, although that one was close, 51-46.
The Eagles will have a much needed week off before resuming play in the state portion of the playoffs. Anderson knows both players are going to want to play and it will be a judgment call on his part.
“They’re seniors and the last thing they want to is to have their career end sitting on the bench,” he said. “They’re also bot pretty tough and they’re going to tell me they can play but we’ll see.”
