Frenship's Elena Noyola finding groove in return from ACL tear
WOLFFORTH — Tuesday didn't look like Elena Noyola's 10th game back from injury. That's why Frenship girls basketball coach Trent Hilliard is excited about the rest of the senior's season.
Noyola, who went almost a year in between playing, showed signs of her old self in a 49-34 win over Midland Legacy at The Tiger Pit. Whether it was finding an open teammate or sticking her nose in the paint for a rebound, Noyola pushed the right buttons as she continues to climb toward her peak.
"I think the more she plays, the more she gets back into the groove," Hilliard said. "You sit out a whole year and don't play in any games, it's gonna take a little while to get going again. As good as she's picked up and going, there's still a higher ceiling for her to be able to reach."
Noyola tore the ACL in her right knee Dec. 27, 2021 when she planted wrong attempting a fast-break layup in the team's first practice after the holiday break. It was devastating news for Noyola, who said she realized rehab and hard work would get her back to finish her high school career. She underwent surgery March 9 and got to it.
Fast forward to Dec. 16 and that journey was complete.
"It was new," Noyola said of her return in a 54-25 win over Portales, N.M. "I had to get back into the feel of it. I was definitely not in the best shape, and I have to stay getting conditioned, but I know I'll get back to it."
After a bit of early hesitation, Noyola said she's feeling comfortable on the court again. She now has an accompanying brace, which hasn't hindered her production. Noyola tallied five points, five rebounds and four assists Tuesday to help the Tigers (21-5 overall, 4-0 district) stay undefeated in District 2-6A play. That matched the point guard's season highs in rebounds and assists.
"She brings us so much energy," Hilliard said. "She really gets us set when we need to get set. She pushes the ball up and down the floor when we need to. Defensively she's very active. She even gets rebounds, for being as small as she is. She does a great job just making things happen. … For her to come back and be able to play at this level right off the bat is really a surprise. She's giving us a big boost."
It helps having teammates like Addisyn Bollinger. The freshman knocked down three 3-pointers en route to a game-high 15 points. Abbi Holder followed with seven points, while Andie Caddel and Gabby Morales added six apiece.
That's in alignment with the season as a whole. Those four lead Frenship with averages of 8.7 to 11.4 points per game.
"That's what's so great with our team," Hilliard said, "is you never know who's going to step up and score. We may have somebody score 20 one night, or it may be across the board that we have three, four, five different people in double figures. And it's tough to guard, because you can't say, 'OK, we've got to stop this person.'"
Bollinger and Morales, a transfer from Idalou, are new faces on the Tigers, along with Noyola finding her place among the group. Yet the team looks like the Frenship squads that have won seven consecutive district titles.
Hillard said the Tigers are good but "still striving to be great." Noyola said the team can get there based on the chemistry that's forming.
"Just staying in the gym together and then also outside of school," Noyola said. "Being able to bond with each other and just get to know each other and how we play, so we know where they like the ball. … Just knowing that stuff is really critical."
District 2-6A
Frenship 49, Midland Legacy 34
Legacy 6 4 11 13 — 34
Frenship 14 11 12 12 — 49
Midland Legacy (10-20, 2-2) — Natalie Magallanes 11, Kyndall Torres 4, Jazmyn Johnson 14, Madyson Solis 1, Aniyah Mayberry 4.
Frenship (21-5, 4-0) — Elena Noyola 5, Abbi Holder 7, Andie Caddel 6, Hannah Harmon 2, Addisyn Bollinger 15, Gabby Morales 6, Kiah Buchanan 4, Abby Boyce 4.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Frenship's Elena Noyola finding groove in return from ACL tear
