More heartbreak on the TCIS basketball court.
Friday night Damiane Ryans, Cape Henry’s top scorer, split his left kneecap when he banged it on the floor after a scramble for a rebound in a game against Norfolk Collegiate. A month ago, it was Bo Friddell, Norfolk Academy’s leading scorer, who had his season ended with a torn ACL, his third in as many seasons.
It was a terrible scene at Cape Henry. Ryans, a senior who is averaging 20 points a game and has committed to Gardner-Webb, shrieked as soon as he hit the court. Trainers and his parents rushed to his side and he writhed in pain in front of a full house for what seemed like an eternity.
An air cast was applied to his leg while a call was made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad.
In reality, it took about 25 minutes for the resque squad to arrive, pack him carefully onto a stretcher and whisk him away to the hospital.
Meanwhile, he sat on the floor under the Cape Henry basket as both teams watched with obvious concern.
Dolphins coach Larry Ward tried to console Ryans while they awaited the medical folks, but Ryans was having none of it. He was hurting in his heart as well as his knee.
“I feel real bad for Damiane,” Ward said in the locker room after Cape Henry pulled itself together well enough to post a 53-44 win and remain undefeated in the TCIS. “He was having a great senior year. The team is really playing well. I’m very saddened.”
This is Ryans’ second serious injury. He also suffered a torn ACL in the same knee three years ago.
Friday night, no one seemed to know whether the injury was career-threatening.
“I never heard of this,” said a stunned Alonzo Byrd, Ryans’ father. “I don’t know if it’s worse than an ACL or what. It looked really bad. His kneecap was pushed all the way over here.”
“No idea what the rehab for something like that is like,” said Ward.
What is known is that Ryans is having surgery Monday.
And another senior season has gone down the drain.
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