New Richmond – The plan for Abby Russell’s return was to ease her back into action.
After all she was just seven months removed from a procedure that repaired an ACL that she tore on May 2.
Through her play, and often necessity, she’s forced Wyoming East coach Angie Boninsegna to reward her with a heavier workload and the junior all-stater has responded.
Against PikeView she played 30 minutes, scoring 16 points in the win.
A week later she topped that, pouring in a season-high 18 points against Class AAAA Oak Hill on 7 of 9 shooting from the field.
For her effort, Russell has been named the Week 11 Lootpress Player of the Week by the Lootpress sportswriters.
The award is sponsored by Bodyworks of Pineville and Beckley and The Law Offices of Brandon Steele.
After missing the first eight games of the season, Russell felt the pressure to make up for the time lost, but realized that wasn’t necessary.
“The first game back I tried to make up for a whole season,” Russell laughed. “After that I just told myself I was going to let it come to me. It did and against Mercer Christian and Oak Hill the first time I was sick and still played. After that I was just like ‘I’ll let it come to me and play how I want to play and play with the girls.’ After that I felt like I was really getting back into it.”
Naturally there are nerves after suffering a serious knee injury but all of those were vanquished following the PikeView game. With two starters battling foul trouble, and one of them an injury, Russell pushed her limits and helped deliver a win.
It was an eye-opening experience and paved the way for the second Oak Hill game that earned her POTW honors.
“I just try to trust it all,” Russell said. “I know I have to ice and stretch after every game and before every game and go on how I feel instead of trying to push myself more than what I can do now. I was just feeling it against Oak Hill though. I was making passes and shooting pretty good. I just shot the shots I knew that were good.”
