By Staff
MORE MO? n Southeast Lauderdale's Monique Horner pushes the ball up the floor against a Clarkdale defender in this file photo. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Robbie Robertson/The Meridian Star
Dec. 12, 2000
The state's all-time leading scorer in girls' basketball could possibly miss the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
According to Southeast Lauderdale coach Joe Miller, Monique Horner reinjured the knee in a game against Northeast Lauderdale almost two weeks ago.
Horner had the knee checked out by Dr. David Pomierski at Rush Hospital. He confirmed Horner's worse fears that she had completely torn her ACL and would need reconstructive surgery to repair it, which would require about a nine-month layoff.
Despite the injury, Horner played Friday at Velma Jackson and scored 29 points.
Miller said it would be Horner's decision as to whether she would continue playing the rest of the season.
Horner said she was attempting to get an appointment with famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham for a second look and would make a decision after Southeast's last game this month on Dec. 19.
Horner has already had surgery twice on the knee but both were of the minor variety and she was able to return to action quickly.
Miller speaks with experience on knee injuries since he has also had a torn ACL and had it surgerically repaired.
Horner said she hurt the knee on a fast-break play when she was following a Northeast Lauderdale player and tried to block a shot. Oddly enough, when Horner hurt her knee as an eighth grader, it was against Northeast Lauderdale.
Miller said he would hold Horner out of practices except for light shooting. Southeast only has two games remaining before the Christmas break.
Horner broke the state's scoring record earlier this year in the Lauderdale County Tournament and currently has 3,879 points.
She is close to entering the top 10 among high school girls scorers in the nation.
To make matters worse for Southeast, guard Erica Ruffin has also injured her knee and could need surgery as well, Miller said.
Robbie Robertson is sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rrobertson@meridianstar.com.