Spending Christmas break in pain was not what Megan Norkett had in mind.
Yet that’s what the Naperville Central guard had to endure after taking an elbow to the face during a Dec. 18 game against Sterling.
The blow broke Norkett’s nose and required her to undergo surgery. She missed the next five weeks.
“It was pretty brutal, honestly,” Norkett said. “The doctor (Scott Kaszuba) is my neighbor, so I know him pretty well.
“He said he had to hit it pretty hard to get it back in place. The recovery was a lot more painful than I thought it would be.”
Norkett’s absence was painful for the Redhawks (14-12), who depend upon the 5-foot-8 junior’s versatility and athleticism. They have an 11-2 record when she plays, 3-10 when she does not.
Nobody thinks that is a coincidence.
“We’re very happy to see her come back,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said of Norkett, who chalked up two points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in Thursday’s 51-27 nonconference loss to Wheaton Warrenville South. “I’m glad she’s playing.
“I think her teammates trust her. That’s a big deal — they feel more confident when she’s playing.”
Norkett is one of the top soccer players in the state. She has already committed to Northwestern and missed several basketball games due to club soccer obligations.
But being sidelined for such a lengthy stretch tested Norkett’s patience and the Redhawks’ resolve.
“It was super frustrating missing all those games just because I love this team and I want to be here,” Norkett said. “So, getting a freak accident like that was a shame. It is nice to be back.”
Senior guard Haley Hayes is glad to have Norkett on the court again.
“She brings a lot of versatility to the team,” Hayes said. “She’s fast. She’s really good on ‘D.’ She can also take the ball to the hoop.
“She really gives us options both on defense and on offense.”
Nussbaum has used Norkett at both guard positions and at small forward.
“She’s not a five, but she can play just about anything else and I like that versatility,” Nussbaum said. “She can shoot, she can drive, she’s got a little bit of size, so she can rebound.
“She’s just got great athletic skills. She would be a good tennis player or a good softball player.”
Norkett, who’s averaging 5.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a steal this season, said her offensive production has suffered since the injury but that defense remains her forte.
“Coming back, I feel I struggled a little bit in my shooting just because I was off for five weeks,” Norkett said. “It’s hard to keep that in check when I can’t even practice.
“I’m not really the sharpshooter on the outside. I’m more of the layup kid.”
Two weeks after her return, Norkett and sixth-seeded Naperville Central have regained confidence ahead of Tuesday’s Class 4A regional semifinal at 10th-seeded Oswego East.
The Wolves (12-16) beat the Redhawks 55-43 on Jan. 22. Norkett did not play in that game, but she will this time around.
“I’m excited for that game,” Norkett said. “We need to work hard in practice this weekend and get everything lined up. I feel like we’re ready.”
So does Hayes.
“We’re really excited for postseason,” Hayes said. “We know the potential we have.
“Last time we played them it wasn’t our best game and we didn’t have Megan, so I think we’re going to go in there with confidence and work our butts off on Tuesday.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
