All things considered, Nixa sophomore Garrett Hines was rather content to be forced courtside for three weeks this winter.
Hines suffered a fractured fibula the first week of the new year. By the end of January, he was back shooting hoops again.
“The first doctor we went to said I would be out eight weeks,” Hines said. “That would have (put me out) the rest of the season. But when I went to another doctor, he said since the break was in my growth plate that it would heal faster. He diagnosed me as being out three weeks. I was very happy to hear that.”
Hines saw his first varsity action since his injury in the late stages of Nixa’s 77-52 win at Branson on Tuesday.
He actually played two games with a fracture, while fighting off pain in his leg.
“When it first happened, I thought it was just a bone bruise,” he said. “It didn’t hurt that bad. I limped down the court and walked off on the sideline a little bit. I went back in the game and the next night I played the whole game against Ozark. But the next day, I went to The (X) Center and played a little bit and my Mom said, ‘We need to take you to the doctor.’”
After three idle weeks, Hines has assumed his starting position on Nixa’s junior-varsity. Opinions vary on whether he’s quite back to being 100 percent, yet.
“He’s recovered well,” Eagles coach Jay Osborne said. “But I saw him limping the other day. He said he wasn’t limping. I begged to differ.”
“Maybe I was limping out of habit,” Hines said. “I haven’t felt anything (unusual) since I’ve been back. My leg has been feeling great.”
Hines has enjoyed his intro to varsity ball by picking up mop-up minutes in Nixa blowouts. He had a 3-pointer versus Willard and had a bucket at the Blue & Gold Tournament against Hartville.
“It’s fun and exciting, with a bigger crowd,” he said.
Hines, fellow sophomore Josh Peters and junior Devon Kemp will likely be prime-time players for Nixa next season, with junior Kael Combs being the lone starter due to return.
“We’re excited about next year,” said Hines, whose older sister, Kenzie, was an all-state volleyball player for Nixa. “It’s going to be big roles for us to step up to.”
