Typically, during injury stoppages, coaches from opposing teams gather their players to discuss strategies or to provide encouragement.
However, Ontario Christian girls basketball coach Aundre Cummings had more pressing matters at hand. His sole request for his squad during Saturday’s highlight matchup at the Sabrina Ionescu SI20 Showcase against national No. 1 Archbishop Mitty was to kneel in prayer.
Fortunately, this was not an extreme situation. With slightly more than two minutes remaining in the first half and his team trailing 19-17, an injury occurred involving a player from the opposing team, but it was not just any player.
The injured player was none other than Mitty’s standout and one of the finest players in the nation — junior forward McKenna Woliczko, who cast a hush over a packed Carondelet High gymnasium.
The echoes of her cries in distress were the only sounds reverberating through the gym. Witnessing such a moment was quite difficult for everyone present.
After a delay of about 3-4 minutes, Woliczko, one of the six athletes recognized on the All-American team, was assisted to her feet. Medical personnel had carefully examined her knee, leading Woliczko to wince when pressure was applied to her right inner knee.
Sadly, she did not return to play and was eventually transported to an emergency room in South San Francisco, where her father, Aaron, the Senior Associate Commissioner of Men’s Basketball and Sport Administration at the West Coast Conference, sought consultation from renowned orthopedic specialists, including Dr. Christopher Lehman, who is affiliated with the Golden State Warriors.
This turn of events overshadowed what was otherwise a commanding 61-44 victory for Ontario Christian, a game that aimed to redeem a more significant 59-34 loss to Mitty just two weeks prior at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. Indeed, it was a game of redemption.
Nevertheless, even Cummings, who embodies humility and graciousness, recognized that the victory felt slightly diminished due to Woliczko’s misfortune.
“The game is significant, but we always pray no player gets hurt,” he stated after the game. “I really hope she’s alright — her health is much more important than the win.”
The standout player of the match — none other than top 2027 recruit Kaleena Smith — shared Cummings’ concern.
Despite her remarkable 23 points, a game-ending 21-4 scoring run, and a stellar overall team performance that stretched her team’s record to 20-1, her thoughts were first and foremost with the injured player who had been named Freshman (2022-23) and Sophomore (2023-24) of the Year for the previous two seasons.
By the way, Smith was honored as the 2023-24 Freshman of the Year. She and Woliczko also shared camaraderie at the USA Trials and Nike Hoop Summit.
“I know my primary concern wasn’t about the game in that moment, but her well-being,” Smith expressed. “She’s a wonderful person, and we’ve built a connection as teammates. Regardless of being rivals in high school, it’s hard to witness someone in pain like that. It certainly impacted my focus after that. But we pulled through.”
Cummings remarked, “When the injury occurred, it shifted the mood of coaching. I felt myself withdrawing. We wanted her to play; our competitiveness drives that wish.”
When Smith, alongside freshman Tati Griffin (14 points, eight rebounds) and Sydney Douglas (nine points, 10 rebounds), propelled the team to a 38-28 advantage midway through the third quarter, it appeared the game was all but settled.
Mitty Hall of Fame coach Sue Phillips faced the challenge of reassembling her team both physically and emotionally after the loss of their key player. Compounding the situation was Ontario Christian, who had three starters eyeing their ultimate championship goal, eager to make a statement following their only defeat just two weeks prior.
“It’s difficult in that situation to compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand, which is competing against a really good Ontario Christian team we beat two weeks ago and knew were going to come in with fresh legs and a renewed sense of purpose and they played like it,” Phillips stated.
The real challenge may have been finding the emotional drive to win. Players were visibly upset on the bench, witnessing their leader in distress on the court.
“When you see your teammate in pain and you know she’s not going to be on the sideline with you, that’s difficult,” Phillips reflected.
Yet, the Monarchs discovered a way to persevere, either drawing inspiration from Woliczko or perhaps realizing their own capabilities. Plus, the nearly 1,200 fans packed into the small gym rallied to turn the tide.
Sophomore Ze’Ni Patterson, a 5-9 shooting guard, shone with 14 points, while 6-2 freshman Maliya Hunter, who faced off against the towering 6-7 Douglas, added nine points and eight rebounds. “(Patterson and Hunter) are exceptional basketball players, and we see that every day in practice,” Phillips noted. “They are going to find their footing in this program and on this stage.”
As a 10-point deficit evaporated, Devin Cosgriff’s clutch baseline jumper completed a 12-0 run, allowing the Monarchs to take their first lead, 40-38, since Woliczko’s injury.
“It was really hard,” Patterson admitted. “You just got to keep playing and pushing and pushing and pushing, just keep playing. I feel like as a team, we played really well just trying to push through our feelings and emotions of losing McKenna.”
That’s when Cummings was nudged by his assistants to engage in coaching. “You gotta still coach. They’re really good.”
Smith then made an immediate impact with a quick drive to the basket, followed by a brilliant assist to Dani Robinson, who sank an outside jumper to reclaim a 42-40 lead, a lead they would not surrender.
Cummings pointed out that Robinson was her team’s unsung hero.
“We had some great spurts but obviously missing a huge component, trying to find our way, we did at times,” Phillips explained. “We did a terrific job of competing and fighting.”
However, the Knights showcased more resilience, even with both Griffin and Douglas loaded with four fouls. A team that typically relies on minimal bench points this season found enough energy to persist, while the Monarchs perhaps appeared to run out of steam—more emotionally than physically.
“I’ll take the win, but I hope and pray that we see them at state if we can get there and to see them at full strength,” Cummings expressed. “Nothing would make me happier than to play them with their very best players.”
Smith added: “I think we learned a lot of things from the last time we played them. We’re a young team and we need a lot more to get back up here (for the state finals). If we do, I hope it’s against (Mitty) and they’re 100 percent healthy.”
According to Woliczko’s father, Aaron, who affectionately calls her “Mc”: “Tonight’s update: She has been discharged from the ER, and the x-rays came back clear in terms of any fractures. Mc is set to undergo an MRI at 8:15 pm on Monday night, and we couldn’t have asked for a quicker turnaround.”
“The doctor at the ER noted some concern regarding her MCL based on the x-ray and the pain she is experiencing on the inner side of her knee. However, he is optimistic that it might just be a grade 1 sprain at worst. This is a positive sign since her swelling isn’t severe enough to indicate a full knee blowout or torn ACL.”
“We are grateful for the doctor’s optimism about her condition!”
“The injury happened during a non-contact part of the game, which is always concerning to witness. She felt and heard a ‘pop,’ which contributed to her initial reaction and the immediate pain she felt on both the medial and lateral sides of her knee. I saw her right leg was straight when she attempted to plant, causing her knee to give way inward. That’s what I observed live and also noted in the video replay.”
“Fortunately, thanks to some excellent connections, we secured an appointment with Dr. Lehman, who is widely acclaimed as one of the best orthopedic knee specialists around and has worked with the Warriors. He treated Mc last spring when she experienced a sliding softball knee injury that fortunately turned out to be a bad hematoma.”
“His earliest available appointment is set for Thursday. We are all very appreciative of the support and good wishes during this concerning moment. We’ll provide updates as we learn more.”
In another positive development shared by her dad: She was found laughing in her room while icing her knee (again), playing video games with her younger brother, and enjoying cat videos.
