Feb. 6, 2008

CHADRON, Neb. -- When Chadron State guard Kristy Long tore the ACL in her right knee while going for a layup against Johnson and Wales on Jan. 12, Eagles' Coach Mike Maloney knew better than to say it was a season-ending injury, although it would have been for a majority of athletes.

"I knew she's very competitive and kind of stubborn. I expected that she'd keep trying to play," Maloney said.

Although the junior from Sterling missed the next four games, just 12 days after the injury Long sank a 3-pointer and made both of her free throws as the Eagles edged Colorado Mines in overtime 60-58.

Both Long and Maloney know she's not the same player that she was before the injury, but she's a plugger, the kind who will give it her best no matter what the situation.

Long said she's never been "a hard-core tomboy," but admits to being "the kind of athlete who's not good at sitting out. It might not be a smart decision to keep trying to play, but I want to do all I can for the team."

Maloney noted that Long's attitude seems to be, "I'm going to have to have surgery, anyway, so I might as well keep playing if I can."

It's handy that she already had a brace that CSC athletic trainer Don Watt adjusted to make work again. The brace dates back to her high school days when she also hurt her knee. She's had four knee surgeries, two on each knee, although all the others have been arthoscopic. The one she'll have shortly after the season ends will be full-blown.

Before she was injured, Long was averaging 12.8 points and 4.2 rebounds through 14 games. She was Chadron State second leading scorer and best free throw shooter, making 36 of 42 attempts for 85.7 percent. She also led in steals with 20 and was second in assists with 41.

The Eagles definitely miss those stats, but Maloney said it's great to still have her enthusiasm and leadership on the team.

Although this is the first year for both Maloney and Long on the Chadron State team, they go "way back."

In the summer of 2000, just before Long's senior year at Sterling High, she was attending a basketball camp at the University of Wyoming, where Maloney was one of the referees. He also was an assistant coach at Wayne State and immediately started a letter writing campaign with hopes of landing her for the Wildcats after she graduated.

Long remembers the letters. She said Maloney dropped her a line nearly every day. She admits that she didn't open them all. Since she was an all-state player and was the first girl to score 1,000 points for Sterling High, he wasn't the only coach trying to recruit her.

But Long decided to stay home and play for Northeastern Junior College. She had two excellent years there, although she said the first one was better than the second. She made the Region 9 all-star team and earned All-American honors. The NJC coach left after her freshman year and things didn't go as smoothly the next year, although she again received some all-star honors and was heavily recruited by four-year schools.

"I kind of lost my focus and didn't feel like going on to college after my second year," Long said. "I stayed at home and worked."

Although she hadn't planned to return to college, in the fall of 2006 she began changing her mind with some help of some close friends at Chadron State from northeast Colorado. Whitney Segelke of Peetz, a member of the CSC basketball team, and Britt and Blair McEndaffer of Sterling, members of the softball team, had transferred to Chadron State and urged her to join them.

"It's pretty hard to say no to friends like that and I knew I should get my four-year degree," she related. Thus she enrolled at CSC in January 2007.

She began practicing with the basketball team, trying to get back in the swing of things so she could play this season. But after a couple of weeks of working out in the cozy confines of the Armstrong Gymnasium, the McEndaffer twins convinced her to join the softball team although there was still snow on the field at the time. The fledgling Eagles needed another player.

Long, who had coached the twins in a summer program in Sterling when they were in middle school, had been an all-state softball player at Sterling High and also did well while playing for NJC before it discontinued the sport.

Long, who is majoring in physical education so she can teach and coach, played left field for the Eagles last season. She batted .248, and 15 of her 29 hits were for extra bases, including nine home runs. She scored 24 runs and drove in 27, both third high on the team.

It was planned that Long would move to shortstop this spring. That's where she played in exhibition games in the fall before she dislocated a shoulder while diving for a ball. That recovery went smoothly and she was ready for the basketball season.

Of course, her softball is now on hold, but after she recovers from the surgery, she said there's a good chance she'll be a two-sport athlete again.

How much she'll be able to play the remainder of the basketball season remains to be seen. Maloney, whose first words to Long after they were reunited at CSC last fall, were, "Hey, I finally get to coach you," said some days are better than others as she practices and tries to play.

"As much as I want to play, I'll have to ask if I'm any good to the team," Long said. "Sometimes my calf and hamstring on my bad leg hurt and I can't do as much as I want to."

In an attempt to keep more damage from occurring, Maloney said he plans to limit her minutes, but definitely appreciates her efforts to contribute.

Despite her setback, Long is confident brighter days are ahead for the Eagles.

"We're all like a family. I love to play for Coach Maloney and for Coach (Mary) Brown (the CSC assistant). They will do anything for you. We have a good chemistry on this team. This is a building year, but we're going to get the program going. I just want to do my part."

Through her grittiness and inspiration, she already has.