MABANK —
Seventeen years ago, Mark Allen began his first season coaching boys basketball at Mabank High School with his infant son, Jordan, at his side.
Now a senior at Mabank, Jordan wants to end his own high school career on the floor with his father, same as it ever was.
And at this point, he doesnt’ seem to be ready to let a torn ACL in his right knee stop him from doing just that.
Jordan — one of the leading scorers in the area at 23 points per game — suffered the knee injury on January 20 at home against North Forney in a District 13-3A contest. He was merely crossing over his dribble when the knee buckled, causing him to fall to the floor.
“My knee turned a funny way and I heard a pop,” said Jordan, who admits he sat out football this past season to avoid getting injured before basketball season. “I hurt like the devil.”
Said Mark: “It looked like a move he’d made a thousand times. He got bumped a little, but nothing where you’d say a foul even should have been called. It was just a fluke deal.”
The Allen family had hoped Jordan’s knee was only sprained, but when the MRI results came back, the torn ACL was discovered.
Immediately, Jordan began talking to doctors about his chance to play with the injury. An orthopedic specialist told him his own daughter had suffered the same injury and was able to continue playing — albeit at a different, more deliberate speed.
The other option is surgery, putting an absolute wrap on his senior season. The Allens were informed that recovery from the surgery would take nine to 12 months.
Ultimately, Mark said, Jordan was given the option to make the decision himself based on conversations with doctors and within the family.
Jordan tried to go during Mabank’s Jan. 27 game against Ferris — only a week after sustaining the injury. Both teams were undefeated in district heading into the game.
He began warm-ups with his teammates but tweaked the knee trying to hustle for a rebound.
Once again, Jordan was helped off the floor. Ferris went on to beat Mabank and grab a share of first place in district.
Both Allens admit they’ve heard plenty of opinions around town and on campus regarding the injury and the potential of further injury should Jordan try to play through it again.
“I was definitely going to give him an opportunity to try and contribute and help the team,” Mark said. “There’s no doubt he can definitely help us just by being on the floor.
“It’s hard to judge somebody unless you’ve been down that road,” he added. “The amount of time he’s spent working on his game — nobody knows that.”
Jordan said he is going to give his knee a try again tonight in Mabank’s home game against Crandall. The Panthers head into the contest at 17-9 overall and 5-1 in district — still in a tie with Ferris.
He’ll undoubtedly have to learn — and fast — how to slow down in an effort to protect the knee. That may be easy to talk about, he said, but he follows that up by saying he’s never gone slow on the court in his life.
He won’t know until the game begins to speed up what he’ll be able to do.
He just wants to do something — something more than watching from the bench.
“I just want to finish this thing out.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Mabank senior Jordan Allen tore the ACL in his right knee during the third game of district. Now Allen is trying to play through pain to help his team continue its charge to a district championship. Jayson Larson/Athens Review
Discussion
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Decisions, decisions
Mabank’s Allen trying to shake off knee injury for stretch run
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