MUSKEGON TWP. - The Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team headed in a bold new direction this season, with the focus turning to a promising cast of much younger players.
The Rockets have seven talented freshmen and sophomores who have the potential to form a very good team in a few years. Head coach Rodney Walker decided to throw them into the fire this winter and begin their development at the varsity level.
Walker has been counting on the older players - particularly the Rockets' five seniors - to provide leadership for the underclassmen as they learn and adjust.
Senior co-captain Jenna Terpstra was all in on that plan. She happily embraced the idea of guiding the younger girls and making an investment in the future of the program.
R-P's Jenna Terpstra
The really impressive part is that she's maintained that commitment all season, despite an injury that knocked her out of the lineup before the first game and was expected to end her career early.
Terpstra remained an integral part of the team, doing everything a good senior captain is supposed to do, without actually suiting up for practices or games.
Coach Walker said Terpstra remained positive and played a huge role, even as she dealt with the harsh reality that her varsity career was probably over.
"She's been the voice in the locker room," Walker said. "She never lets her teammates get down. She's brought a lot of energy to the locker room, before games, at halftime and after games.
Terpstra shouts encouragement from the bench. Photo Tyler Lirones
"She's kept the scorebook on the bench, helped to make sure our practices are efficient in terms of time management, and has been giving some encouraging speeches. It's been been a blessing to have a kid like that."
A really cool, unexpected twist to the story came recently, when Terpstra learned she could start playing again, at least for a handful of games, before a scheduled surgery. So she's been battling through pain and enjoying her last few opportunities to play high school basketball.
"The surgeon agreed to it, as long as I can tolerate the pain," Terpstra said.
"She came to me with a big smile on her face and said 'I can't do any more damage,' and I said, 'You just have to pace yourself," Coach Walker said. "It's exciting, because this is her senior year, when you are supposed to be able to shine because of all the work you've put in. Now she's getting the opportunity to shine a little bit."
'I felt fearless and proud of myself'
Terpstra said she suffered two labrum tears in her hip, and the problem became obvious in the weeks before the season started.
"We were doing some defensive drills, and the next day she came to practice and could not move," Walker said about Terpstra. "She could not walk or do anything. She was on crutches for almost three weeks."
Terpstra said nothing obvious happened on the court to cause the injury, and she and her doctors suspect the cause might date back a few months.
"I fell down some stairs last April, had a pretty bad concussion and a seizure, and I was out for a couple of months," Terpstra said. "I think it possibly happened then.
"I just started feeling some pain in mid-October, and at first I figured I was just sore from getting back in shape. I played through it for about a month, then about a week before the season I told our trainer that I was really in some pain, and was told that if I was really in that much pain I shouldn't be playing."
Terpstra shoots a free throw in Tuesday's game. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
Medical exams determined the nature and extent of the injury, and Terpstra was told that she would need surgery and her season was over.
"It was torn pretty bad." she said. "My heart just dropped. I had just found out I was going to be a team captain, and I was so excited about my senior year."
While a lot of injured players take a step back when they're sidelined for a lengthy period, Terpstra doubled down in her leadership role, teaching and encouraging and doing everything she could possibly do.
"The younger girls on the team, I see their potential and how great they can be," Terpstra said. "I wanted to help light up that work ethic and passion in them. It's important to me that we think of the team as family, get some wins and have a good season. I know they need some leadership because there is a big age gap."
The Rockets have definitely improved and bagged some victories. After starting the season 0-5, R-P has won five games and currently stands at 5-11, heading into a home rivalry game against Mona Shores on Friday.
Terpstra had four points and three assists in her first game back. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
"We're a lot better," Terpstra said. "In the beginning it was just turnover after turnover, but now we're starting to play with more confidence, hit shots and play together."
The best part is that Terpstra is now actually able to help her teammates on the court.
She returned to action on Jan. 28 against Hart, scoring four points with three assists. She scored three points in the next game against Caledonia, and five on Tuesday in a road game at West Ottawa.
Terpstra said she can continue to play until she has surgery on Feb. 21, which means she has three more games, starting with Friday night's home rivalry matchup against Mona Shores.
Terpstra has been playing through pain to help her team. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
"It felt really good," she said about her first game back. "I think I airballed my first shot, but I just kept shooting, because I didn't think I would get the chance to score at all this year. I felt fearless and proud of myself."
She admits the discomfort is pretty bad, but not as bad as sitting out her entire senior season would have been.
"It's pretty painful," she said. "I get really nervous before the games, but once I get in I forget about it with all the adrenaline and excitement. When I come off, I just want to lay down, because it hurts so bad.
"I'm gonna push through because I want to make the most of my senior year and help my team get some wins."