Especially
you, Leilani McIntosh!
The Gators
rode a big rollercoaster of emotions after McIntosh, the senior point guard,
suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury in the Scorpion Shootout
tournament over the weekend in Goodyear.
Her right
knee appeared to be the problem, but coach Jennifer Gillom surmised that the
injury would not be too serious, instead of having it be something that would
idle her for an extended period.
As coaches tend
to be most of the time, Gillom was right. McIntosh was given the green light
and returned to action on Thursday night (Nov. 29) when the team staged its
2018-19 home opener against Mesa Desert Ridge at the Activity Center.
McIntosh,
hovering around the scorer’s table during the JV game before the varsity
played, said she felt good and was ready to go.
And she
played like it.
She led the
Gators to their fifth win of the season without a loss, 64-15, scoring a
team-high 18 points and contributing her normal list of other plays on offense
and defense.
“I wasn’t
too worried and the doctor said she was fine,’’ Gillom said. “Lei was back out
there doing all of the things that Lei does. She’s fine. She practiced well.’’
McIntosh had
plenty of help. Three other players scored in double figures – senior guards
Addie Putnam and Paris Rasheed-Moore with 14 each and junior guard-forward
Elysia Fleetwood with 12, including 10 in the first quarter that helped the
Gators get away to a fast start.
Gillom was
particularly pleased with the play of Rasheed-Moore and Fleetwood.
“Paris
stepped up,’’ Gillom said. “She made better decisions and she’s starting to
look for her jump shots, which we want her to do.
“ “E’ is
coming into her own. She can do a lot of things out there and that only makes
us better.’’
The Gators
will be back at home on Friday night (Nov. 30) against Tempe Corona del Sol,
then return to the road on Tuesday (Dec. 4) at Avondale Westview.
Xavier Prep 64, Mesa Desert Ridge 15
XCP – Leilani McIntosh 18, Addie Putnam
14, Paris Rasheed-Moore 14, Elysia Fleetwood 12, Tanya Barakat 4, Toni Garcia
2.
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