While the Woodstock girls were hardly derailed by Makensie Block’s absence with a knee injury, the senior’s return to the lineup was a welcome sight. The senior came back in the Lady Wolverines’ win over Etowah on Friday and will be looked at to boost the team through postseason play.
Staff photo by Todd Hull
Staff photo by Todd Hull
Block suffered a knee injury in early January and did not return to the lineup until Friday’s 61-43 victory over archrival Etowah. She showed little sign of rust after missing 10 games and led her team with 16 points in her return, despite playing limited minutes.
Woodstock coach Julie Crowe said having Block back gives the team something extra off the bench.
“She is definitely another weapon for us,” Crowe said. “She is another person teams have to contend with, and that just makes us a little deeper.”
Crowe said it will probably take Block a few games to get settled back in, but that playing basketball is like riding a bike.
“The kid has a motor,” Crowe said. “She only knows one speed, and that’s full speed.”
The three-sport athlete has also prospered in cross country and track and field — both of which she recently signed a scholarship to compete in at Troy University.
The Lady Wolverines lost just one game in Block’s absence — 61-58 against Cherokee on Feb. 2 — but in the postseason, one loss ends the season.
“Makensie brings a lot of energy to our team,” Crowe said. “She was second in scoring when she went out, but we had people step up. We found those points from other kids, but it is nice having her back.”
With Block out of the lineup, Woodstock looked more to players like Brianna Lakes, McKenzie Fortson and Sarah Aguirre. Now that Block is back, everyone will be making some adjustments.
“That’s a good adjustment to have to make, though,” Crowe said. “Having her back makes us a better team.”
The Lady Wolverines will return to the state playoffs for a third-straight season after defeating Milton 73-41 in Tuesday’s Region 5AAAAAA quarterfinal. Block had eight points.
At 20-6, Woodstock is a win shy of last season’s team record of 21. The Lady Wolverines have at least three games remaining.
“We are feeling pretty good,” Crowe said. “We just have to keep playing at the level I know we can.”
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