Clyde's Shiets back on the court after ACL injury

CLYDE — Katie Shiets has persevered.What happens when the thing you love is taken away from you and you have no control over it?That's what happened last January when Shiets was injured halfway through her junior basketball season. After almost a year away from the court, the Clyde senior is back playing for the Fliers and is on a mission."It means a lot to me," Shiets said. "I really love basketball a lot. Just getting to play again feels great."When she was injured, initially the doctors thought Shiets sprained her MCL.The doctors were wrong.An MRI revealed that Shiets tore her ACL and surgery was needed. That took place in April.Everything was going well until Shiets was having problems bending her knee. She needed a second surgery in September because her knee was stuck."It's been difficult," Shiets said.Shiets said the second surgery was a little more calming as the doctor thought she was still on track to play. After missing the first eight games of the season, Shiets made her season debut Dec. 23 at home against Columbian.They say no player returns to the floor the same after a devastating knee injury like Shiets suffered.The confidence Clyde coach Blayze Behney has in Shiets is going to give her that opportunity the rest of her senior season."Katie is a player that will lead by example with her practice habits," Behney said. "She is a student of the game and is always asking great basketball questions and putting us in the best positions to do well."Last year, Shiets averaged 14.6 points per game in 13 games before her injury. Despite playing just over half of a season, she led the Fliers in 3-pointers made (21) and 3-point percentage (34 percent). She was a second team All-Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division selection."She's a calming presence," Behney said. "She is a very solid ball-handler and makes good decisions with the ball. Lastly, she is a threat everywhere on offense. She has deep range from behind the three-point line."Since her return this year, she has played in three games, coming off the bench each time. She scored two points against Columbian before tallying 16 points in a win over Lakota on Dec. 28.Against undefeated Willard this past Monday, she was limited to two points in a loss."It's been really hard," Shiets said. "Not the physical part, but mentally. That's where it really gets you. It's straining because you want to do the one thing you love the most, but you can't. You have to sit out and watch. But, I got through it."Shiets said her knee doesn't give her any problems. If anything, she is a little hesitant and has nerves. It'll get better over time, but she is still a little sore after practice or games.She still hopes to play college basketball somewhere next season."I really had to figure out how to lead without being on the court," Shiets said. "That took me awhile. Being a good teammate and cheering my team on is what you really have to do."You can tell the difference when Shiets is on the floor. After her injury last year, Clyde went just 3-7 without her."She keeps us organized and makes good decisions with the ball in her hands," Behney said. "She brings a level of confidence that our younger players look for when they are in tough situations."I'm just excited for her to be back on the floor. She has worked tirelessly to get back to this point."Clyde sits at 6-5 this season ahead of Saturday's game at Perkins.Shiets is flanked by sharpshooter Taitum Jeffrey. The two along with Kenzlie Guhn look to have a much better second half of the season. The Fliers will continue to play without Reese Daniel, who is out for the season."Katie can have another impactful year with her offensive skill set, but she elevates her game when she is communicating on and off the court," Behney said. "She has done a great job of that in her first two games back. She can be one of the league's better scorers when healthy."Shiets' right knee is now covered by a brace that she will likely wear the rest of the season. It's a constant reminder of the agony and pain she went through to get to this point."I was very upset when I got hurt, but everything happens for a reason," Shiets said. "I guess I trusted the process and now I'm ready to play."