Sturt set to meet North Adelaide in tomorrow night’s women’s state league basketball grand final
STURT basketballer Hannah Richards is eyeing a women’s state league title, but she is relieved just to get to tomorrow’s grand final after three knee reconstructions.
STURT basketballer Hannah Richards is eyeing a women’s state league title, but in many ways she is relieved just to get to a grand final.
Richards, of Woodcroft, has fought back from three knee reconstructions on her left leg – and she is only 22.
After almost walking away from the sport twice, the Sabres centre’s long road back will culminate against North Adelaide in the championship decider tomorrow.
“It means a lot because I’ve been waiting for it a long time,” Richards says.
“There were a couple of times I decided I’d give up and wouldn’t play again.
“But with my love of the game, I couldn’t stay away from it.”
Richards’ first knee injury came during a trial game in 2008 – the same season she made her state league debut for Southern Tigers.
At the time she had been offered an Australian Institute of Sports scholarship and was on the verge of selection in a national junior squad.
“It was devastating because all my basketball dreams were coming true and then that (injury) happened.”
While recuperating the following year, Richards’ knee buckled again during a training session.
Richards switched from Southern to Sturt in 2010 and injured her knee for a third time in 2011.
“There was a time there that I refused to go out to basketball just because it was too hard for me to sit and watch.”
Richards, who is averaging a career-high 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season, says her teammates and coaches have helped her recovery.
“It took time for me to go into contests and feel confident jumping and landing safely.
“This year I’ve been injury free and probably the best I’ve been since that last knee reconstruction.”
Sturt booked a grand final berth after beating two-time defending champion Norwood in this month’s second semi-final.
The Sabres are chasing their first women’s title since 2008.