On February 20, the Carrollton High School Girls Basketball team won the North Greene Sectional, advancing to the Super-Sectional round of the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament, one win away from the school's first-ever state final appearance.
The following evening Patsy Coonrod, the team’s top rebounder, second-leading scorer and lone senior, was injured in a car accident that ended her season.
Less than 48 hours after Patsy’s accident, the shell-shocked Lady Hawks managed to persevere and win the Super-Sectional game in her honor, as illustrated by teammate Jessica Lake’s tweet following the contest:
Doctor’s orders prevented Patsy from attending the Super-Sectional game or the state semifinals, but after Carrollton pulled off another shocker to advance to the Class 1A title game, Patsy had to be there for the title game. A little over an hour before tip-off, she arrived at Redbird Arena and was escorted to the Lady Hawk lockerroom, where her teammates were led shortly thereafter. Initial shock and surprise turned to tears and eventually laughter when her teammates realized Patsy was there.
When Patsy was finally able to gather herself and reciprocate, what she said to to her teammates was simple and from the heart:
“I am so proud of you girls!”
