Dickman is back to full speed

Dickman's recovery from knee injury spurs Eagles

Kristen Dickman underwent surgery in January. She rehabbed hard for five months, performing physical therapy and weightlifting exercises designed for recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament she suffered during Zionsville's 2009-10 basketball season.

Finally, in June, the senior-to-be returned to the court for a midsummer game . . . and she didn't feel anything. No lingering pain. No fear. Nothing to hold her back.

"I wasn't afraid to go out there and go hard," Dickman said.

What about now, about halfway into her final season at Zionsville?

"I really, honestly feel like I was never hurt," Dickman said. "I feel completely normal."

She's playing like it -- or at least close to it, according to coach Andy Maguire -- as Dickman is an important rebounder and one of five key scorers for a Zionsville team (4-5) heading into today's holiday tournament.

Dickman's numbers: A team-high 8.8 points per game, plus 5.8 rebounds (second on Zionsville).

The team's four wins are two fewer than last year's team posted, and its Hoosier Crossroads Conference victories over Lafayette Jeff and Avon are two more than in 2009-10.

A lot of this is thanks to Dickman and to her quick recovery. She said it had been expected to take six to eight months, instead of five.

"I think she's done a great job," Maguire said of Dickman, who is aiming to play at a Division III college, possibly DePauw. "She's in shape, and she's strong.

"Just playing in games again, it's still a process with her, but she's been really consistent the last three weeks. . . . We're pleased with where she is right now, and I think she's going to be even better the second half of the season."

Seniors Katie Drapeau (8.1 points), Jenna Mitchell (8.0, plus a team-high 6.4 rebounds), Kelly Hunt (7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds) and Emily Olds (6.1 points) give Zionsville a five-person offensive attack.

It's a bit of a departure from past years' inside-oriented focus behind Dickman and Mitchell. Now -- thanks to Drapeau and Olds -- the team can score from the perimeter as well.

"It would be hard to guard us," Maguire said, "because you can't really say we're just an inside team. We are capable of playing pretty well from the outside, too."

Maguire said the team has some winnable games coming up. Today, it starts with Danville (2-8), then either Benton Central (9-1) or Crawfordsville (6-5) -- with Maguire seeing both games as winnable if the Eagles play to their potential. The Danville game is scheduled for 11 a.m., the second semifinal for 12:45 p.m., the consolation at 6 p.m. and the title game at 7:45 p.m. Cost is $5.

A junior varsity tournament with the same matchups also is scheduled for today.

After that come Park Tudor (5-4), Guerin Catholic (5-6) and Southmont (1-9) before the Eagles' Jan. 15 trip to Hamilton Southeastern (9-1, 5-0 HCC).

With Dickman healthy and her teammates contributing greatly, this could be a successful span for Zionsville.

"You hate to look at paper and (past) scores," Maguire said, "but it looks like if we play like we're capable, we could have a stretch of games where we could win four or five games."