SLIPPERY ROCK — The pain of not being able to play was almost worse than the pain in Hallie Raabe's left ankle.

As the injury lingered for the 5-foot-8 junior guard/forward on the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team, so did Raabe's impatience.

“It was difficult for me,” Raabe said. “It was my first real injury. The only other time I was really injured was my knee my freshman year and I missed only two games at the tip-off tournament. It was the first time I've actually had to sit out for a long time.”

Raabe, though, made the most of her time away.

She studied the sport from the bench in a way she hadn't before. Saw plays develop. Witness how important it was for five players to move together. Gained a better understanding of how important rebounding is in a game.

And she's used that in her return.

Raabe scored 16 points in her first real action after a month away against Franklin Thursday and added another 16-point game Monday in a big win over Hickory.

Raabe, who's known by “Red” to her teammates, has made the opponent see red again.

“She just brings a different dynamic to the floor,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “She takes the pressure off the other plyers. She has such a good IQ and a good knack for the game. She passes the ball so well for someone as big as she is and sees the court like a point guard.”

Raabe was on her way to another standout campaign before the injury in the first meeting against Franklin on Dec. 16.

Raabe jumped to swat a pass away and came down on the foot of an opponent, rolling her ankle forward and to the inside.

It immediately swelled and it didn't take Raabe long to realize it was more than a normal ankle sprain.

“It looked like if someone took a racquetball and shoved it inside my ankle,” Raabe said.

Still, she held out hope she would miss only a few games.

That dream ended quickly when the swelling persisted and bruising formed from her toes all the way up her calf.

Raabe was diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain and the waiting game was on.

Raabe found company on the shelf. Fellow junior star Maryann Ackerman was already out for the season with a torn ACL. On the court for the Rockets was just one starter from a team that has won 20 or more games for three straight seasons, including a District 10 title.

“Coach Osborn is a such a great coach. She stresses to us to pick each other up,” Raabe said. “Always do it for the people who can't do it.

“Our main thing was encouraging our teammates and becoming leaders on the team. Our main goal was to pick up the puzzle pieces.”

Players did.

Junior Kelly Benson emerged as a scorer and is averaging 9.5 points per game. Sophomore Ella McDermott also raised her game and is contributing 8.5 points per contest.

“I think as much as it was awful, it was such a growth period for the team,” Osborn said. “You can always find good in the bad. The bad was Red getting hurt. The good was players stepped up.”

Now with Raabe back, the 11-6 Rockets have designs on big things again.

Without Raabe and Ackerman, Slippery Rock still managed to hand state-ranked Grove City its only loss and are atop the region with a 7-1 record.

The rematch against the Eagles is Thursday at Grove City.

And Raabe will be there.

“One of the main things I learned was how much I appreciate playing,” Raabe said, “and how that can be taken away at any time.”