July 20, 2020, started out the same as a lot of other days in the life of Addy Cole.
Cole and her DistinXion teammates traveled to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a basketball game.
Cole was playing with her AAU travel team. The coach of DistinXion is Luke Zeller, former Mr. Basketball from Washington High School, who went on to play college basketball and briefly play in the NBA.
“I was running down the court and I went to pivot and pass my teammate the ball when I suddenly felt a pop and fell to the floor,” Cole said. “I screamed. There was a lot of pain.”
Her basketball future suffered a major setback.
“I tore my (left) ACL and my MCL,” she said. “I had surgery about a week or so later at Vincennes Hospital. I started rehab the day after surgery, and it was mostly trying to walk and stretch. I had to go (to a trainer in Carmel) every single Monday. I had to do a lot on my own until I was released.”
A senior for Crothersville’s 6-11 team, Cole began playing basketball at age 9. She attended school in Austin through her sophomore year, then transferred to Crothersville, where she has starred.
“I started playing travel ball when I was a freshman in high school,” Cole said. “I decided to transfer because I was having problems with kids at Austin. I finally decided that I should try switching schools. I love playing with my team and for Kevin (Hensley, head coach).”
The severe knee injury sidelined Cole from the Tigers’ games until after New Year’s. Since then, she is back in a starting role in the front line and has been averaging 14.6 points while playing wearing a protective brace in practice and games.
“She has worked hard in the weight room and traveling to her trainer up in Carmel,” Hensley said. “She has been working hard to get back this early. She was hoping to get back earlier. She has been a big contributor. She has worked as hard as she can to be this far.”
Cole’s first game back was Jan. 14 against Henryville when she scored 12 points in a 37-36 loss.
Cole’s top games this season were 23 points against South Central and 19 against Columbus Christian. She scored in doubles figures her first five games this season and against Christian Academy in the final regular-season game Saturday. She scored 102 points in those seven games.
“I was really excited to play, and my adrenaline was pumping,” Cole said. “I was really just concerned with not being able to keep up with everyone. It felt amazing to finally make a basket again. My confidence shot right back up. I am definitely very close to being 100%.”
Hensley said her overall presence has been a big help.
“The first game we played this year (against Borden), they didn’t even know she was out,” he said. “They were all focused on her, and that is what they were talking about. They were so surprised she wasn’t even there.
“(Having her back) has taken pressure off Grace (Wilson) and Kennadi (Lakins),” he said. “They don’t have to do as much scoring now because they know they can look inside, and she can kick it back outside if she needs to or she can step out and hit the three.”
Cole was named the Tigers’ most valuable player her junior year when she topped the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game, was the team’s top rebounder (6.9 per game) and earned all-Southern Athletic Conference honors.
She helped the Tigers compile a record of 11-12 in 2019-20. Her high-point games her junior year were 26 against Clarksville, 22 against Cannelton and 21 against South Central.
Because of her absence the first half of this season, Hensley said he had to change his offense and had to rely more on Wilson and Lakins for points.
Cole and her teammates are preparing for the Edinburgh Sectional, where they will play 7-14 West Washington tonight. It could be the end of her high school career or a step forward in the playoffs.