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Forbes Road's Owen Gilbert returns from injury


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When you're an athlete who's used to playing sports year round, a long-term injury like an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear can be devastating.

And for Forbes Road's Owen Gilbert, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last basketball season, it was just that.

"At first, it was real hard, seeing your players and teammates out there playing and having fun, and there's nothing you can do about it," Gilbert said. "You can't help; you can't do anything, and it's hard feeling to get over."

But he used that feeling as motivation to get back to the sports he loves even faster.

The injury happened in the fourth game of the Cardinals' 2015-16 boys basketball season. Gilbert said he remembers going up for a rebound, and as he landed, his knee buckled.

"It was instant pain," Gilbert said. "I couldn't get up from it. I knew I was in trouble as soon as I hit the floor, that it was a bad injury and I would be out for awhile."

Gilbert missed the remainder of the hoops season and the entirety of Forbes Road's successful baseball season.

But after surgery for his ACL and a partially-torn meniscus and a long series of physical therapy sessions, Gilbert made his way back for the Cardinals' boys soccer season when he played goalkeeper.

"Honestly, I about cringed when he told me he was playing soccer," Forbes Road boys basketball coach Trent Black said. "I thought it was extremely quick, but he rehabbed hard. There are times when it seems like it really bothers him, but he won't tell you otherwise. He just keeps moving."

Gilbert scored at least two points in every game this season for Forbes and is averaging 5.0 points per game. He has also contributed 37 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

"He helps us out a lot on the boards," Black said. "We don't have a whole lot of height, so he gets in and gets some banging around done for us on the inside. A lot of times he gets a mismatch; he either gets a bigger guy or a smaller guy on him, but that seems to suit him better."

Regardless of how much he's been scoring, Gilbert said he's just happy to be back on the court and contributing any way he can during his senior season.

"It feels great," Gilbert said. "I'm glad to be back with the team, and I feel like we're playing well - a lot better than last year. It's exciting to be part of a winning team."