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Plenty of pain, and gain

Kristi Hopper has blown out her knees and had her nose mashed, but the Mitchell junior keeps coming back.

By IZZY GOULD
Published December 9, 2005

TRINITY - Battering rams have suffered less abuse than Kristi Hopper.

You realize this after charting the Mitchell junior's extensive list of basketball injuries.

Since her freshman year Hopper has recovered from a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus. Then a broken nose, a broken foot, a broken back and another torn meniscus.

She has recovered from three surgeries that would have forced many to reconsider their hobbies. But the thought of not playing was worse than any rehabilitation regiment.

And there's the chance to prove everyone wrong.

"It's tough coming back from injuries with people telling me what I'm going to do," Hopper said. "They said there's no way I can come back."

Hopper has recovered from every injury seemingly stronger and sharper, and she ranks second in the area in scoring with 20.4 points a game.

How?

"After each injury, she was determined," Mitchell coach Stephanie Koslin said. "She's a hard worker. Hard work pays off."

And what if Koslin were to lose Hopper to an injury?

"One person doesn't make the team," Koslin said. "But I don't even want to think about that."

Koslin can take solace in knowing Hopper is obsessed with basketball. She learned the sport traveling to games with her father, Joe, and her older brother, Jeremy. Family reunions were actually basketball games dubbed the Hopper Family Shootout.

Then there was the daily chase of her brother's success while trying to earn the praise of her father. Jeremy finished second at Mitchell in scoring all-time with 1,115 points.

Joe, who coaches AAU basketball and helps with the Mustangs girls, grew up in Kentucky, loyal to the Kentucky Wildcats.

"He's probably my hardest critic, more than anybody," Hopper said. "I don't think he's ever missed a basketball game."

And every time Hopper suffers another injury, Joe can't help but share the pain.

"It's unbelievable, but she will not quit," Joe said. "She's tough as nails. She'll go outside and shoot in the rain if she's not playing her best. She'll lift weights, run. It's been hard."

The injuries began just before her freshman season.

Hopper blew out her left knee before ninth grade trying to block a shot. She had surgery that June and recovered in time to join the varsity team.

Hopper would visit the surgeon once more after breaking her nose in a pickup game.

"I was playing with the boys and I went for a steal when someone head-butted me in the nose," Hopper said. " ... They said they went through (the bottom of my nose) so it wouldn't scar."

Hopper's nose twisted across the right side of her face and was stuck below her eye. She had a face mask after surgery for protection but refused to wear it.

She also adjusted her playing style. Instead of driving to the basket, Hopper became an outside shooter. Her favorite spot is from the corner beyond the 3-point line.

In a Nov. 18 win against Countryside, Hopper nailed nine 3-pointers and matched a career-high 34 points.

Even the adjustment couldn't help her avoid injuries such as stress fractures in her foot, her back and another torn meniscus before this season.

Hopper thought she'd miss the start of her junior season, but her recovery went much better than anyone hoped.

"They thought I'd be out a month or two," Hopper said. "My dad ... kept calling and telling the doctor I was okay. I could ride the bike, I could walk, I could do everything.

"I went back in there, and he's like, "It's your choice. I think you're okay.' "

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 10:39:03]