Kentucky commitment tore both ACLs. Now she’s back and chasing a championship.
Two years ago, eighth-grader Cassidy Rowe took the McBrayer Arena floor as a starting point guard and helped Shelby Valley reach the finals of the All “A” Classic.
Wednesday night, now a sophomore, Rowe came off the bench, putting in 15 solid minutes in the Lady Cats’ 64-30 win over Louisville Holy Cross in the first round of this year’s tournament.
It’s safe to say she savors this one more. She savors every moment playing basketball more.
“I took it for granted before, but I never will again,” Rowe said.
In the space between All “A” appearances, there have been two anterior cruciate ligament injuries and surgeries for Shelby Valley’s “Phenom,” who garnered and accepted a scholarship offer from Kentucky after that eighth-grade season.
The right knee went in an AAU game the summer before her freshman year. The left knee went last June in a scrimmage with her high school team.
Lonnie Rowe, her father and head coach, knew she was a tough-minded girl after she earned varsity minutes as a seventh- and eighth-grader. Her determination and perseverance through two devastating injuries and rehab proved to him she’s the toughest player he’s ever been around.
“I want to go to war with her every night, because I know what I’ve got,” he said.
Last summer’s injury hit hard. Rowe had fully recovered from the first one and looked stronger than ever.
“Mentally, it really got to her,” Coach Rowe said. “But after about three or four days, she came to me and said, ‘Let’s get this done. We can do this.’ She actually helps keep my confidence up.”
She also has a friend in fellow Kentucky commit Erin Toller, a senior standout at No. 1 Sacred Heart who also lost two seasons to separate ACL tears. Toller has been making her case for Miss Basketball this year, averaging 17.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for a loaded Valkyries squad. And she’s been a big inspiration.
“We talk sometimes, and we just encourage each other,” Rowe said. “It’s really awesome that she’s back to doing what she loves, and it really makes me happy.”
Assistant coach?
After the second surgery, Rowe realized the first rehab stint gave her an amazing preparation for the second. All the workouts before had made her physically stronger with more muscle mass to work with this time around.
“Last year, I felt like I was great when I came back, but this year, I just feel so much stronger and so much better. I’m just really excited,” Rowe said.
She’s also learned more about the game by sitting out.
“There’s so many different things going on, and I’ve learned how to, really, be an assistant coach,” she said.
The short minutes are important to getting Rowe back to full speed. The goal from the outset has been to get back on the court this season to help her team.
“They’ve been so supportive, man, they’re just the best teammates I could have,” Rowe said. “They’ve been with me every step of the way. They just always have my back.”
And Shelby Valley is putting together what looks to be a special season with 13 wins, five losses and an All “A” 15th Region title.
“We started out playing pretty good basketball even though we’ve got some injuries,” Coach Rowe said. “I’ve felt pretty good about where we were at early in the season, and we’ve gotten better each game. And that’s all I ask my girls to do.”
Shelby Valley’s balanced scoring attack is led by sophomore center Alyssa Elswick who put up 19 points Wednesday in the first half of a dominating performance against Louisville Holy Cross and finished with 23 for the game.
60 percent
Shelby Valley next plays Walton-Verona in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Friday.
Cassidy Rowe likes their chances this week. “I feel like we’re going to do what we did two years ago, if not more.”
Coach Rowe estimates “Cass” is playing at about 60 percent, right now.
“With her IQ on the court, that’s a big benefit for us, even at 60 percent,” he said.
She began easing her way back into the lineup this month. She’s averaging 3.5 points with a couple of rebounds in five games. Wednesday, she delivered six assists, two of them on pinpoint, long-range passes.
“I want to be out there more than anybody,” Rowe said. “I just want to be able to play like I used to and have no restrictions, but I can’t really have that. I’m just happy to be able to play a little bit.”
Rowe admits these two years have been difficult, but there’s been a lesson in it.
“It was really tough to deal with, especially after the second one, but I just turned to God and let him handle everything,” she said. “Going through it once made me a lot tougher, but going through it twice, I feel like nothing will bring me down, now.”
All ‘A’ Classic
At EKU’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond
Friday’s girls’ quarterfinals
8:30 a.m.: Bethlehem vs. West Carter
10 a.m.: Glasgow vs. Danville
11:30 a.m.: Owensboro Catholic vs. Murray
1 p.m.: Walton-Verona vs. Shelby Valley
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 2:41 PM.
