BY BECCA MAXWELL

ELLINWOOD — The Ellinwood Lady Eagles basketball team (11-2) has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024-25 season, thanks in large part to the stellar play of sophomore Reece Stickney. 

The dynamic guard has been a force on both ends of the court, leading the team at 17 points per game and contributing 6 rebounds and 3 steals per contest. Her standout performances have helped fuel a major turnaround for the Eagles, who won five games in the 2023-24 season.

As a freshman, she averaged 11 points per game. With her leadership and talent, Ellinwood has looked like a team on the rise — until an unfortunate injury struck.

On January 17, Stickney sustained a knee injury against Macksville, an incident that put an abrupt halt to her breakout campaign. 

After further evaluation, it was determined that she had suffered a complete ACL tear along with damage to her lateral and medial meniscus.

Stickney underwent surgery Feb. 3 at KU Med in Overland Park under the care of Dr. Vopat. The procedure successfully repaired her ACL and meniscus tears.

While some cartilage damage was discovered, doctors are hopeful it will not cause long-term issues. As a precaution, they collected a sample of her cartilage, which will be stored for up to five years in case additional treatment is required.

Stickney remains in high spirits and is focused on her recovery. She and her family are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community, teammates and fans.

While the Lady Eagles will miss Stickney’s presence on the court, her impact has already been felt. 

Her future remains bright. 

The Ellinwood community will support Stickney as she takes on the next challenge—her road back to the game she loves.