Dogged Determination

Whitefish's Amanda Ormsby is back in action - and turning heads

It's Wednesday evening, and the Lady Bulldogs are long gone from the Whitefish High School gym.

Except Amanda Ormsby, of course.

Ormsby is crouched in an icy whirlpool inside the training room, soothing her aching legs nearly 45 minutes after basketball practice has ended.

The scene is all too familiar.

The 5-foot-10 senior post spends about an hour per day in the training room, doing all she can to stay on the court - the court she worked 22 months to return to.

Ormsby was just a sophomore when her prep career was jeopardized by an injury that hardly concerned her at the time.

Swinging between Whitefish's varsity and JV, Ormsby suffered a torn meniscus when a Corvallis player accidentally slammed into her right knee during a JV game.

"I thought I would be out for a week," Ormsby said.

Her journey back to the hardwood was longer and more painful than anyone anticipated.

Ormsby's initial surgery and ensuing physical therapy provided little relief, prompting three months of rest followed by an MRI, which revealed a large bone bruise and knots of scar tissue.

She underwent a second procedure in September to reduce the scar tissue, allowing her to fully bend her knee for the first time since February 2006.

"I was hoping it would work," Ormsby said of the second operation. "I was sick of not being able to play and not being able to do anything. I had limped for a lot of months."

Meniscus is cartilage, which disperses body weight across the knee, providing structural integrity while distributing friction between the tibia and femur.

As part of her rehabilitation, Ormsby tweaked her jumping and landing mechanics to prevent her knees from knocking, which would cause further damage.

"With all she's been through with the knee injury, I think the word that jumps to the front of my mind is 'heart,'" Whitefish coach Tim Olson said. "She came back from the injury, and I had to slow her down in practice.

"Her desire to get back on the floor was unbelievable."

"I love going to practice," Ormsby said. "When I was a sophomore, sometimes it would be like, 'I have to go to practice.' But now, it's like I can't wait for school to be over so I can go to practice."

Ormsby's hunger for action - even tedious drills and exhausting conditioning - intensified last season when she served as Whitefish's team manager.

She attended each practice and went on every road trip. She kept statistics, shot film, washed towels and uniforms - whatever her coaches asked.

"It was one of the worst things ever," Ormsby said. "I loved being a part of the team, but you're still really not part of the team.

"I just wanted to come back and show people how much I loved basketball - how hard I'm willing to work for it."

Senior forward Dana Labuda sensed Ormsby's frustration last season.

"Every minute," Labuda said. "Especially when we would be down, she would feel really guilty that she was sitting on the bench, not being able to help at all. You could tell that she really wanted to be out there."

Ormsby's long-awaited return has paid instant dividends for the Lady Bulldogs. She scored four points in Whitefish's opener against Stevensville before totaling eight points and 14 rebounds against Anaconda.

"I was so nervous," Ormsby said of her season debut. "I was a wreck, pretty much. Playing in front of a crowd again, it was hard for me.

"I didn't feel like I played that well. I didn't feel like I played like I did in practice."

Ormsby took her game to another level last week, totaling 20 points in back-to-back victories over Glacier and Polson as Whitefish improved to 3-1. She is averaging eight points, nine rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

"I was rooting for her to get back as a kid, but she shows some great things and may be able to play at the next level, even with taking that year off," Olson said.

"She is going to turn some heads, and there's going to be some college coaches raising some eyebrows and saying, 'Where did this kid come from?'"

Like the rest of her teammates, Labuda has embraced Ormsby's return - even though it meant surrendering her spot in the paint and moving to forward.

"I probably would be a little upset if I knew the person really didn't deserve it, but Amanda deserves it 110 percent," Labuda said. "She's worked so hard to be where she's at, and she is a tough girl.

"We work together. It's not a problem at all."

Whitefish surged late last season, but missed out on the state tournament. The Lady Bulldogs don't plan on falling short again, and the addition of Ormsby to an already potent starting lineup - featuring Labuda and guards Ashley Ferda, Kate Klundt and Desiree Clarke - certainly helps their cause.

"We have threats for outside shooting and everything, but she brings the inside game as well," Labuda said, "and that's a big help."

Ormsby's grit has proven valuable in the paint and worn off on teammates.

"Aches and pains are going to happen in sports," Olson said, "and if they're sore, if they're tired, they better take a look at No. 42 and realize what she's gone through just to play one season for us."

Ormsby doesn't play a spring sport, meaning her tireless rehabilitation has been devoted to just one season - three-plus precious months - of basketball.

"I have to come in before school now because I have to do ankle exercises so I don't roll my ankle," Ormsby said. "And I have shin splints.

"It's just like, if I can do this to stay in it, it will be worth it."