RIMERSBURG — Lexey Shick thought her senior season for the Union girls basketball team was over long before it started when she tore her ACL in an AAU game May 28.

And with that devastating injury, she thought her chance at 1,000 career points was gone as well.

She was even more pessimistic when her rehab started slowly following her surgery June 29.

“I struggled with my range of motion,” Shick said. “But I put in a lot of extra work.”

It led to a somewhat miraculous recovery.

It usually takes at least eight months for a player with an injury similar to the one Shick suffered to be cleared to play a sport that is so hard on the knees like basketball.

But Shick, who was able to serve for the Damsels’ volleyball team in the fall, was cleared for full participation in a little more than five months — the day before the first game of the season.

“That was a pretty good day,” Shick said, laughing.

“It was just a blessing to be able to play as a senior with my teammates,” Shick added. “Scoring 1,000 points wasn’t really a thought. I knew I was kinda close, but my mentality was, if I get it, I get it.”

Shick, a 5-foot-4 guard, has started every game for the Damsels and she admits when the season began she was nowhere near 100 percent.

“I’d say about 65-70 percent,” Shick said. “A big part of my game is my speed — speed is a big thing for me — and I didn’t have the explosion I had before. I couldn’t drive between players.”

Her speed has gotten better — she scored her 1,000th point on a drive of the lane through Karns City defenders last week — but Shick says she’s still only at about 90 percent.

“I’m almost at 100,” she said.

Union coach Lacey Magagnotti also was aware that her star players would be slowed by the injury.

“The first game Lexey was back, you could tell she wasn’t herself, but we knew it would take time,” Magagnotti said. “But, I can say it took less time than I thought it would. Each game she got more comfortable with handling the ball, driving to the hoop and shooting the ball. It’s been an awesome experience watching her be successful and scoring 1,000 points.”

Shick plays with a bulky brace on her left knee, which she laments also hinders her speed.

“I wish I didn’t have to wear that thing,” Shick groused.

It’s also a reminder of what she’s been through.

Shick, though, was able to quickly push the thought of re-injury out of her mind.

“I admit, I was nervous,” Shick said. “Especially the first time I hit the floor, but my coach and my teammates were awesome. I had to trust the knee and trust that it’s good. If something happens again, it happens.”

Not only does Shick have to deal with her knee, but also opponents bent on limiting her damage.

Still, Shick is averaging 16.1 points per game this season.

“Teams are face guarding me,” Shick said. “They’ve done that all season. It’s a huge honor, actually. It’s also huge that I am still able to do what I need to do to help the team. My team relies on me a lot.”

Shick plans on playing basketball in college next year. She’s received lots of interest from Division III schools.

Magagnotti said the example Shick has provided is more important than any shot she has hit this season.

“Lexey has set a great example for athletes, showing them hard work truly pays off,” she said. “Lexey’s leadership has been important to our team. She leads our team on and off the floor.”