By Marty Hastings/Kamloops This Week
Meghan Faust heard two sounds, neither of which she cares to hear again.
The first was the sound of an ACL tearing and the second was Emma Parmar screaming in anguish.
Faust, head coach of the Kelowna-based Okanagan Mission Huskies, knew her Grade 12 student香蕉视频直播檚 season had ended before it started, the injury coming in the team香蕉视频直播檚 last practice before their first game of the 2017-2018 B.C. Secondary Schools Girls Basketball Association campaign.
香蕉视频直播淚 ended up on the ground screaming,香蕉视频直播� Parmar said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e never been in that much pain before. It was devastating knowing I香蕉视频直播檓 in Grade 12, this is my last year and it was all over. It was heartbreaking.香蕉视频直播�
What made the moment worse was it stamped out three years香蕉视频直播� worth of rehab. Parmar sprained her left ACL in Grade 9 and missed most of her Grade 10 and 11 seasons.
Parmar toiled strenuously to rehab the knee last summer.
香蕉视频直播淏asketball has always been a passion of mine,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 was doing really well with my rehab and I was ready香蕉视频直播擨 was ready to play this year. I was super excited.香蕉视频直播�
Her torn right ACL on Nov. 29 should have been the sad ending to the story.
Then the Saints came marching in.
One of the saints was coach Faust and the other was Cassie Ferguson, a Grade 11 point guard for the NorKam Saints. The Kamloops school was invited to play in Okanagan Mission香蕉视频直播檚 New Year香蕉视频直播檚 Classic last weekend in Kelowna.
Parmar is still a registered member of the Huskies. She has gone to practices and games all season. If she can香蕉视频直播檛 play post, she香蕉视频直播檒l post up on the sidelines and cheer.
香蕉视频直播淲e had our team picture on Friday,香蕉视频直播� Faust said. 香蕉视频直播淚 could see the tears in her eyes. She had her uniform on. I knew it was going to be a really hard weekend for her. I香蕉视频直播檝e known her since Grade 8. She香蕉视频直播檚 always been that one kid that sticks out as the hardest-working, that wanted it the most.香蕉视频直播�
Fast-forward to Game 1 of the tournament, the Saints and Huskies playing during school hours in front of a partisan Okanagan Mission crowd.
The Huskies, the fourth-ranked AA school in the province, went up big in a one-sided affair that would end 75-31, a scoreline rendered meaningless and forgettable by an act of sportsmanship by NorKam香蕉视频直播檚 Ferguson.
Coach Faust remembered Parmar had her uniform with her at the team picture. With the game already in the bag and a competitive schedule ahead, it may have been the only time to give the hobbled athlete a chance to reach the scoresheet in her senior year.
香蕉视频直播淚 looked down and thought, 香蕉视频直播極K, let香蕉视频直播檚 just put her in and see what we can do,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 said Faust, who has been teaching for 11 years. 香蕉视频直播淗er face was something I香蕉视频直播檒l never forget. She walked off to put her uniform on. She had the biggest grin. It was one of the most special moments of my coaching career and life.香蕉视频直播�
Parmar was having a moment of her own in the locker room.
香蕉视频直播淭he smile on my face was huge and I could not get it off,香蕉视频直播� Parmar said. 香蕉视频直播淚 went to put on my jersey and looked at myself in the mirror for the first time. I just started crying. It was really emotional.香蕉视频直播�
With 1:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, Parmar entered the game.
She was unable to run or jump. She could barely even move. But she set up shop in the offensive zone and her teammates fed her the rock.
One shot香蕉视频直播攎iss. Another attempt香蕉视频直播攏o good. A third and surely final prayer香蕉视频直播攗nanswered.
香蕉视频直播淚 was embarrassed,香蕉视频直播� said Parmar, whose peers in the crowd could barely watch. 香蕉视频直播淢y stomach was in knots. I was super anxious. I just wanted it really badly.香蕉视频直播�
Ferguson香蕉视频直播檚 elder sister, Emily, played with Parmar on a select club team two years ago. The Saints香蕉视频直播� point guard knew enough about Parmar香蕉视频直播檚 situation to do something about it.
香蕉视频直播淗er shots just weren香蕉视频直播檛 dropping,香蕉视频直播� Ferguson said. 香蕉视频直播淢y teammate inbounded it to me. There were five seconds left. I just passed Emma the ball and told her to shoot.香蕉视频直播�
Once again, Parmar was unable to drain the basket. Ferguson snared the rebound and gave her opponent one last shot.
香蕉视频直播淎t that point, there was only one second left on the clock,香蕉视频直播� Ferguson recalled.
The Huskies held their breath. 香蕉视频直播淭he shot went in, the buzzer went and everyone started crying,香蕉视频直播� Faust said.
Parmar was mobbed.
香蕉视频直播淭here was not a single person in the gym who had a dry eye,香蕉视频直播� Parmar said.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l never forget that moment and that feeling. I香蕉视频直播檓 so thankful and grateful to her [Cassie]. I was in shock. We香蕉视频直播檙e not little anymore. It香蕉视频直播檚 very competitive. For her to make it about more than the game and recognize that, for me, it was greater than that香蕉视频直播t was just incredible.香蕉视频直播�
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