Photo by Kyle Lutz Cameron’s Courtney Walker makes a play at first base during her final softball game in her high school career.

CAMERON–The Bethany girls’ basketball team is getting an outstanding athlete next year in Cameron’s Courtney Walker, but perhaps her biggest attribute is her determination.

This past September, the Dragons’ senior dislocated her knee before her final season of basketball had even started.

She thought her senior season was over but the thought of missing out on a memorable campaign with her teammates was something she just couldn’t bare.

“I dislocated my knee pretty badly and tore some cartilage in the back,” Walker said. “I have played sports ever since I was a little girl and I was crushed when I got hurt. I thought I tore my ACL and I was done. When I found out it was a dislocated knee, I made the decision to play my entire season, even if it hurt because we had a pretty good team and I didn’t want to miss out on my senior season.”

Anyone who watched Walker take the court this season would have never imagined that she was playing with an injury.

The Cameron standout didn’t just play, but she dominated. She compiled 10.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game.

She was named first team All-Mason Dixon for her performance and earned a spot on the all-tournament team in the WVHIT.

Walker even found a spot on the OVAC Class A first team and in the OVAC All-Star Game, she poured in 12 points against some of the best players in Ohio.

As softball season rolled around, Walker was determined to take the field with her teammates, once again.

However, she found it difficult to play her everyday position of shortstop. So she did something she had never dreamed of doing before.

“I have played shortstop since I was a little girl,” Walker said. “But I had little lateral movement so I was not going to be as good as I used to be at shortstop.

“Our other shortstop was doing a really good job so I figured if I moved to first base, our team would have a better chance of winning. I just wanted what was best for the team.

“I have never played first. It was one of the few spots I’ve never played, along with pitcher.”

Walker not only played her new position, but did so with excellence. She also handled the bat as well as anyone on the team with no strikeouts and a home run.

“I have been hitting pretty decent,” Walker said. “During the game it doesn’t hurt at all but after the game it does hurt pretty bad. My brace helps me deal with it at first.”

Despite the torrid pace Walker was on, she needed to cut her softball season short so she would be ready for her freshman year at Bethany.

“I wanted to wait until the end of softball season but since I signed with Bethany, they said I needed to get the surgery going,” Walker said. “It is a six month recovery process to make it back for the beginning of basketball.”

Walker played her final game in a Dragons uniform last Friday but she has made a lasting impact at Cameron.

“Cameron has meant a lot to me,” Walker said. “I have had great support the whole time I have played here.

“My teammate Autumn Gossett has been my number one supporter. She has been there since we were eight years old and she has kind of pushed me through.”

Cameron coach Albert Paczewski knows how much Walker has meant to the softball and basketball programs and is grateful to have coached such a talented athlete.

“She has meant a lot to our program,” Paczewski said. “She has been a four-year starter for us and her playing as long as she could was really big. I’m glad she was able to do it.”