Bonanza's star player sidelined due to injury

Good athletes find ways to overcome adversity. Kathy Willinsky will soon get a chance to prove just how good she is.

The Bonanza High senior has been sidelined since mid-December, when a fluke on-court accident resulted in a potentially life-threatening staph infection to her right leg.

The Bengals have struggled without the 6-foot, 1-inch forward, who expects to return to the lineup later this month.

"It's frustrating because I can't do anything on the court to help," said Willinsky, whose team lost four of the five games immediately following the setback. "So I just try to pick them up from the bench."

Willinsky has long been Bonanza's leader. The four-year starter's quickness, leaping ability and perimeter shooting helped her to average 12 points and 12 rebounds prior to the accident.

But first-year Bengals coach Chris Zunno said the absence of Willinsky's leadership has been the biggest problem.

"It's nice to have someone as vocal as Kathy," Zunno said. "She exhibits so much leadership, and that's invaluable. (Her absence) has hurt us, but the main thing was the shock value to the girls. Kathy was with us the day before all this happened, so they were not ready for it."

Even so, Zunno expects his team to salvage a successful season.

"We still have a lot of talent on this team," said Zunno, who noted that his players have begun adjusting to the hole in the lineup. "Our goal from the beginning was to get the No. 1 or 2 (Southwest Division) seed, and I don't think that's changed."

Willinsky agreed.

"Every year since I've been here, we've been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs," said Willinsky, who also has played on Bonanza's volleyball and softball teams. "This year I want to make it past that."

But will she be ready in time to help the Bengals in their stretch run? Zunno expects his standout to return just before the final playoff push, but he does not know how effective she will be.

"Eight weeks without basketball is a long time," he said. "She may struggle a little in the beginning, but I know we can still put a team away."

Willinsky, who has signed to play at Santa Clara next year, said she plans to go out with a bang.

"I have constant pain, but it's not as bad now," said Willinsky, who is taking intravenous antibiotics each day. "I think I'll be ready. Even if I'm out of shape, I always push myself. If nothing else, I can help with rebounding."