GRAVETTE -- Kristi Duchanois smiled and gave her coach a high-five as she trotted off the court Tuesday night.
The Farmington senior only played a little more than a quarter in the 63-18 win over Gravette, but after missing all of last season after surgery for a torn left ACL, Duchanois appreciates any time she gets on the court.
How They Scored
Girls
Farmington 63, Gravette 18
Farmington^22^19^13^8^—^63
Gravette^0^1^14^3^—^18
Farmington (2-0): Tah. Hopkins 16, Hamley 9, Smith 8, Duchanois 6, Brown 6, Tay. Hopkins 4, Tevebaugh 4, Oxford 4, O’Connell 2, Gray 2, McPherson 1, Dutton 1.
Gravette (0-3): Hubard 10, Kardynalski 3, S. Pinter 2, Linn 2, Davis 1.
Boys
Farmington 75, Gravette 41
Farmington^19^16^17^23^—^75
Gravette^9^5^18^9^—^41
Farmington (2-0): Thomas 21, Mueller 10, Barnes 7, Spears 7, Ingram 7, Oxford 6, Hobbs 5, Wilson 3, Osnes 3, Waggle 3, Ovell 2, Foust 1.
Gravette (0-2): Morgan 10, Turner 9, Carlton 7, Miller 6, White 6, Johnson 3.
Junior Varsity: Farmington 46, Gravette 28.
"It was the biggest obstacle I've ever had to go through in my life," she said after scoring six points. "Honestly, I felt like a failure. I felt like I let my team down. It was just really hard mentally and physically."
Duchanois (5-foot-9) was expected to have a key role last season for the Lady Cardinals after playing well as a sophomore. But on a routine layup in July, her left knee buckled and the result was a torn ACL. She missed the entire season as the Lady Cardinals advanced to the Class 4A final four.
Farmington coach Brad Johnson said Duchanois' battle through adversity has given his team an emotional lift.
"She's had a rough go of it," Johnson said. "As a ninth-grader she injured her foot and had surgery on that. She had a good sophomore year, then her junior year she tears her ACL.
"But she never batted an eye. She just continued to attack her rehab and get her body ready."
Duchanois said she was cleared to rejoin the team at the end of last season, but the knee still caused her considerable pain. But she fought through it. She participated in team camps and practices last spring and summer, but she admitted she was not on her game.
"It was just very uncomfortable coming back. Really, I never felt like I was back until last week when we went to Muldrow," she said. "That was the first time that I felt like I was completely healed and felt like I could do the things I did before the injury."
On Tuesday, she scored the game's first points as the Lady Cardinals (2-0) raced to a 35-0 lead over the Lady Lions (0-3). She added a layup and a pair of free throws before watching the rest of the game as the score mounted. Fellow senior Tahlon Hopkins led the way with 16 points. Chasity Hubbard led Gravette with 10.
If there is a silver lining to the knee injury, Duchanois now knows what her career path will be when she finishes her basketball career as she hopes to become a physical therapist.
"It was something I was looking at before the injury, but after my surgery, it's something that now I know that's what I want to do," she said. "Last summer I got a job at a physical therapy clinic and got to experience that. It was a real good opportunity."
Johnson said having Duchanois back as a player and not watching from the bench has been a boost for the team.
"She obviously makes us a better team," Johnson said, "but what she brings to the team mentally and character-wise is really uplifting."
Boys
Farmington 75, Gravette 41
The Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the season with a mercy-rule win over Gravette (0-2).
Sophomore Matt Thomas led the Cardinals with a game-high 21 points and Jeremy Mueller added 10. Dustin Morgan paced Gravette with 10.
Farmington will return to action Dec. 2 against Prairie Grove, and Gravette will compete in the Decatur Tournament starting Dec. 1.
Sports on 11/26/2014