Marysville High School sisters Sydney (left) and Kinzi Lee are returning from injuries that occurred during the final basketball game of the 2016-17 season. Sydney, a sophomore, underwent surgery to repair an ACL injury in her knee. Kinzi, a senior, did likewise to repair a broken collarbone.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Tim Miller)
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Marysville High School basketball player Kinzi Lee had been a member of the Lady Monarch program for two years prior to being joined on the roster by younger sister Sydney during the 2016-17 campaign.
As the season progressed under first-year head coach Mindy Eisnaugle, both earned a good deal of playing time and contributed to several victories.
The campaign, however, came crashing to an end for both the sisters and the team when they fell to Licking Heights during the Division I tournament last February.
Both girls suffered serious injuries within a matter of minutes from each other during that game.
Sydney, who was a freshman, incurred an ACL/meniscus injury to one of her knees that required surgery.
Kinzi, a junior, broke her collarbone going up for a rebound. That injury required an operation to insert a steel plate.
Sydney’s injury was the more serious of the two as she had to undergo six months worth of rehab. That caused her to miss her sophomore soccer season this past fall.
Kinzi wasn’t in therapy sessions such as the ones that her younger sibling endured.
“I didn’t have any rehab,” she said. “I just kept working it (the motion) and had to relearn my (basketball) shot.”
The elder Lee was able to play soccer this fall and saw some action as a keeper.
The sisters are resuming their basketball careers this season for the Lady Monarchs.
“I don’t have any problems making the cuts on the basketball floor,” said Sydney. “I don’t have any worries about my knee holding up and I’m good.”
“I’ve got a plate and six screws in my collarbone for the rest of my life, but I’m ready to go,” smiled Kinzi. “I’m ‘bionic’ now and I can’t wait to go through an airport (metal detector) someday.”
“I haven’t seen Kinzi miss a beat during the preseason,” said Eisnaugle. “She has come back strong and she is a good, vocal leader who provides us with senior leadership.
“I thought Sydney might be a little hesitant, but during the first week of tryouts, she was all over the floor.”
Both girls brought an aggressive style to the court a year ago.
Despite their injuries, nothing has changed.
“There is no hesitation from Kinzi about diving for every loose ball and banging the boards for rebounds at 5-6,” said Eisnaugle. “She always gives you everything she’s got.
“She’s always willing to give 110 percent and the other girls really respect her.”
Sydney may step into a new role as the Lady Monarchs’ point guard.
“That’s a possibility,” said Eisnaugle. “She’s one of our better shooters, so maybe Emily Daniels will bring the ball up the court and give Sydney opportunities to get shots off of screens. We’ll just see.”
Since the younger Lee missed the soccer season, Eisnaugle said it’s taken her a little longer to get into basketball condition.
“However, Sydney isn’t having any problems with her knee,” she said.