Women’s basketball’s Chris Masse: Abdul Hakim’s injury sharpened her resolve this season | News, Sports, Jobs

Loyalsock’s Natayah Abdul-Hakim (1) and Warrior Run’s Abby Evans (44) battle it out for a loose ball on January 6, 2023 at Loyalsock High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

With just a minute remaining, the Royal Sock were led by 19 when Lancer guard Nataya Abdul Hakim sprinted down the court, chasing a loose ball and literally crashing into the wall. Victory confirmed. She had just recovered from an illness and was a year away from her left ACL tear.

It didn’t matter. This is the only way Abdul-Hakim knows how to play. That’s the only way she wants to do it.

Although the torn ACL has hurt Abdul-Hakim physically, it has only sharpened her resolve and she is doing everything possible to make her senior season memorable.

“I have to give a traditional speech, the theme of which is about appreciating small moments and making memories. Go the extra mile for something.” Abdul-Hakim said after helping Loyalsock beat Warrior Run 49-32 last Friday. “Because if you have the ball on the ground, you might be able to get that ball and it could be the ball for your team, which could lead to a point instead of a turnover or a point on the other side. Jump in. (Friday) I wasn’t scoring a lot, so I was putting my body on the line every time a loose ball came out, but maybe I shouldn’t have done that because I’m not feeling well. If it’s for my teammates, I will.”

Abdul-Hakim was a valuable reserve in Loyalsock’s debut season two years ago, helping the Lancers (8-2) win back-to-back Class AAA championships in District 4. She was excited to build on her success going into her senior year before her fate intervened.At summer basketball, Abdul her hakim jumped her shot When it was released and landed, everything changed.

Landing awkwardly, Abdul-Hakim tore his ACL. An accomplished softball player, she was just a month away from playing in a national tournament. Her hopes and her 2022 basketball ambitions were dashed in an instant.

It was a devastating blow that rattled the bright athlete. However, Abdul Hakim’s flame could not be extinguished. What started as a setback led to an impressive comeback on and off the court.

“It was the worst thing in my life. It really taught me to be humble. Sport in general is my life. If it’s taken away, what am I without it?” Abdul Hakim said. “From not being able to play sports, I have learned that there are other things you can do outside of sports. You have to find other ways to invest in other things you can do.”

Watch Abdul-Hakim play and you’ll see that passion explode. Royal Soc manager Curtis Jacobson has basically appointed Abdul Hakim as the sixth starter. She suddenly gains momentum when she’s on the court, often adding to the team’s collective intensity when Abdul Hakim steps onto the court.

Abdul-Hakim was like that again against Warrior Run as he did all the little things that helped his team win big. She hustle everywhere, compete fiercely, play strong defense and have three assists to help Loyalsock dominate the game in midfield.

“Taya provides such a spark. It’s nice to go to the bench and bring someone who will provide you with energy right away.” Jacobson said. “She’s always in attack mode. Sometimes it’s hard to get players to attack. She feeds what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play.”

“She has helped me a lot. Thaya flies when there are five people in the basket.” said guard Izzy Dazzy. “She’s a happy presence. She always sets the mood. I’m glad she’s back.”

Ironically, Abdul-Hakim did not originally plan to return. She hoped to play college softball and didn’t want to risk another injury, but Abdul The more she thought about her Hakim missing last season, the more she felt the urge to play basketball. can no longer be suppressed.

Although she lost her junior year to injuries, Abdul Hakim decided not to let her previous injuries affect her senior season. Given another chance, Abdul Her Hakim swooped in. Other than her knee brace, which she wears, no one can say she has any serious injuries.

“Last year, sitting on the sidelines was very painful because I knew I wouldn’t be able to play. Knowing what I had to go through last year, I couldn’t sit down again this year.” Abdul Hakim said. “I’m a senior and it will probably be my last year with the team to play basketball again. So I said I’m going to take a risk and bet everything for the team.

“Having her back is a huge bonus. She plays with passion.” Jacobson said. “She takes ownership. She doesn’t want to mess up, no one does, but she takes it to heart and wants to find a way to make things better.”

Armed with an age-defying and mature perspective, Abdul-Hakim has become a strong team leader. She talks and takes walks. She’s the kind of player every good team needs and someone who makes her teammates better.

Abdul-Hakim is also human. It is natural to think about what happened. But instead of focusing on that, Abdul Hakim keeps thinking about what could happen.

“I still have the memory in the back of my mind that something might go wrong, but I try to play without thinking about it at all. , I try to think of something better.” Abdul Hakim said. “Instead of getting hurt, I think about what I can do better this time. I try not to think negatively. I try to stay positive as much as possible.”

Abdul-Hakim turned a negative into a big positive. She had her knee broken, but her spirit was never broken.

Putbacks: Muncy (6-2) has battled illness and injury since going on vacation, but has returned strong last week, beating Bucktail and Montgomery and losing just 37 points. Senior Avery Bigelow continued his big season, scoring 42 points in those games. She tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds against Bucktail. Reserve players like Anna Zalonis and Addie Gresh also played well, with Nolah Moyer tallying her 19 points and her 17 rebounds. St. John Neumann (5-5) has a good balance as he has won three of his last four games. Sheiana Tutler, Gigi Parlante, and Lily Reid are all averaging 9+ and their sophomore Niyah Tutler is also becoming a weapon. Tatler averaged 13.3 points and had 14 steals over three games last week…Farrin Reynolds did what he could in Montgomery’s loss to Neumann, posting a career-high 21 points… North Penn-Liberty (5-6) won three straight games and got a big boost from Haley Litzelman. The freshman averaged 16.3 points over his last three games, posted a career-high 26, threw eight 3-pointers, and scored a career-high 22 points and 18 rebounds in a 59-25 win over Galleton. The record … Tanya Martin heats up at Williamsport, scoring a career-high 18 points against State College on Thursday.

Chris Masse can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on his Twitter at @docmasse.

Top 5 Dr. Masse Rankings:

1. Loyalsock (8-2): Despite losing four key players, Loyalsock played well against Warrior Run. It could provide a big lift moving forward, as the situation has expanded the bench and grown so many people with extended playing time.

“We told the girls that good programs and good teams grow out of adversity. They don’t walk away.” Jacobson said. “We found some extra parts and that helps us. because I got

2. Jersey Shore (6-2): Jersey Shore win three games against Lewisburg, Selinsgrove and Troy after a difficult week. The Bulldogs are on his fifth straight win, and their strong defense provides a quality foundation. They haven’t allowed the team to reach 40 points in any of those five games, giving Troy their second loss in eight games on Saturday, winning 57-32. They are tied for first place with Sikerami in the I and looking to win the program’s first league title of the 2000s. Cailyn Schall is a player who could have a big night he scored 10 points against Troy. Celia Shemory supports the defense, Jocelyn McCracken double-doubles against Lewisburg, and Celia Shemory strengthens the defense.

3. South Williamsport (6-4): The South have gone undefeated in play at Midpen for the past two seasons, losing just seven points in three quarters against Bucktail at 52-19 on Friday. Hmm. Lacey Kleevel and Aleiga Riepel rebounded from triple-doubles, scoring 16 and 14 points respectively. Kriebel and Piper Minier also scored 5 steals each. The South will have a big game on Wednesday against District 4 class AA champion Minersville. This is a rematch of last year’s state tournament thriller in which the Mounties erased his 9-point deficit in the 4th quarter and won his 37-35 with his second jumper at the end of Sophia Cacela. The Mounties will also host Northwest Friday with a showdown between division leaders in Central Pennsylvania.

4. Hughesville (8-4): Hughesville put together a strong performance with convincing wins against Warrior Run and Wellsboro, but perhaps most impressive in defeat. The Spartans roped 2022 Class AA State finalist Southern Columbia into the fourth quarter, trailing him eight points before losing him 49-45 last Friday. Despite the loss, Hughesville showed how dangerous it was. The Spartans came back within 24 hours and beat Wellsboro 58–22 with Breana Bobak, Ari Anstadt and Eva Snyder all scoring in double figures. Freshman Vivian Draper added eight points. Hughesville has only allowed his 48 points in his two wins and has limited the team to under his 30 in his last three wins.

5. Montoursville (6-3): One of the district’s fastest-growing teams, Montoursville have already doubled their combined winning percentage from last year to a four-game winning streak. The Warriors dealt swiftly with Milton and the Midwest last week, with mercy dominating both opponents. Montoursville is balanced and last week he had Alaina Marchioni, Shyanne Klemick and Maddie Labatch making his double-digit game. With the offense booming during the streak, Montourville scored at least his 51 points in all four of his wins. The Warriors have a big test tonight against District 4 Class AAAA Champion Central Columbia in his two-time defending matchup.

player of the week

Peyton Dincher and Shayanna Tatler, St. John Neumann: Dincher had a great freshman season but worked through the offseason and is now a more accomplished player. Dincher has become a matchup nightmare where he can attack, shoot outside, and post up. She surpassed her 20 points in all three of her wins last week, averaging 25 points. Tatler returned strong from his ACL tear, picking up two double-doubles last week.The senior forward averaged 15.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and seven blocks over three games. Tatler finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks as she one block off a triple-double with Benton.

game of the week

Loyalsock at Hughesville: Tuesday night will feature a rivalry between two teams seeking an extended Class AAA playoff. Hughesville have been tough against Loyalsock in recent years, but haven’t beaten them since 2017. Ending the drought against the two-time defending district his champion could announce Sparta as a major title contender, but it will be difficult to do so.