Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – For the better part of the last year the predominant thought on the mind of West High senior Rachael Saunders has been getting back.

Back to full strength, back on the basketball court and back to her old self.

On Monday, 362 days after tearing her ACL in a state quarterfinal last March, Saunders will be back in the spot where her career changed.

Saunders returns to the site of the injury that cost her the first nine games of her senior season when ninth-ranked West High (16-7) faces No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (20-3) in the opening round of the Class 5A state tournament at 1:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.  

“It’s definitely something that I have never experienced before going back to a place where things changed dramatically but I’m excited to kind of leave a different legacy there,” Saunders said. “Hopefully if everything goes well I won’t have the state tournament be where I tore my ACL but the place where we went on an amazing run.”

A year ago, Saunders just wanted to get back to the state tournament.  

As a fiery freshman Saunders was sparkplug off the bench for West High’s state semifinal team.

West High missed a trip to state in 2016 but Saunders helped the Women of Troy return to Des Moines last year with a 16-point, eight-rebound outing in a regional final win.

Just minutes into an opening round contest with Waukee Saunders dropped to the ground in pain.

Shortly after the injury Saunders got the news she had been dreading, a torn ACL.

Suddenly, getting back had a whole new meaning to Saunders.

“There were definitely more things in the past year that I have been worried about,” Saunders said. “Putting weight on my knee again or walking or running.”

It took a little time, a lot of energy and hours and hours of hard work but in a surprise to no one associated with West High basketball Saunders is back.

The senior guard was cleared for activity in time to start the season in November.

She practiced but followed a plan that West High coach BJ Mayer endorsed to hold off on game action until the new year.

When Saunders finally got back on the court she was ready.

“She probably could have come back sooner but we were a little cautious with her and wanted her to be at 100 percent,” Mayer said. “I think she has given us a big lift after Christmas.”

Saunders is averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 per game in 14 games since returning to the lineup in January.  

Over the last month Saunders has looked like her old self.

She has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games and had 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists in a road win at No. 8 Pleasant Valley in the regional finals.

More importantly Saunders is back to providing the energy and emotion that has become her trademark.

“She is our emotional leader and I think that’s good,” Mayer said. “We have a lot of kids that play good basketball but sometimes you need a little spark and you see often when she is pumping her fist and has a big scream and that helps get us going.”

West High managed to advance to the semifinals last season without Saunders but lost to eventual champion West Des Moines Dowling 55-48 in her absence.

Returning to state this season gives West High a shot at redemption as well as its first title since 2012.

For Saunders getting back to state offers that and more.

A 9.1 point per game scorer in her career Saunders has managed only nine points in three career state tournament games combined.

Monday’s quarterfinal matchup with West Des Moines Dowling offers one final chance to change that.  

“Playing at state again is kind of not only a second chance for our team but a second chance for me as well,” Saunders said. “I’m hoping to actually contribute this time in some way or form.”

Mayer wants all of his players to end their careers at the state tournament.

The veteran West High coach was hoping the final game for Saunders at Wells Fargo Arena would end on the court in celebration rather than on the bench on crutches.

“When we get down there I’m sure there will be a lot of emotions with everything that has gone on,” Mayer said. “She has been a kid that has really persevered and really worked her butt off to get back so for her to go out there is going to a really good thing.”