ST. GEORGE – The Region 9 basketball season is months away, but already the Snow Canyon Warriors are in a world of hurt.
Chandler Gines, a 6-foot-3 forward for Snow Canyon, suffered a torn ACL Friday at the Dixie State College Team Camp. Gines, in the midst of what his coaches are calling an excellent summer, is coming off a junior campaign in which he scored 8.5 points per game as the Warriors starting small forward.
Gines was injured in the opening seconds of an overtime game in the semifinals of the Dixie State camp while attempting a layup. The injury will require surgery, though advancements in the technique, as well as in the field of physical therapy and recovery could theoretically have Gines back this season.
“Chandler is our team leader and it really showed this week at camp,” Snow Canyon basketball coach James Brown said. “It’s gonna make things interesting because I told him he needed to step up and be our team leader and he did that this week and it really showed the game before he got hurt.”
Brown is talking about the Warriors late comeback victory over Stansbury. Gines helped lead the Warriors back to a 6-point win over the Stallions.
“Chandler has the ability to get to the hoop on anyone and use his body and power to push through the contact make the basket and get the foul,” Brown said. “We don’t have anyone that can do that like him. Jake (Frei), Gabe (Jensen) and Kallen (Webster) can all get to the hoop, but they need someone to help them get there. Chandler could do it on his own. We’re gonna miss him. I hope we can get him back by region play.”
Gines has not scheduled surgery yet but is being told he could make it back by mid-January (when Region 9 play starts).
Gines injury is being felt all around the region. Several players are taking to social media to express their feelings, with a Tweet by Dixie High senior Kyler Smith ssumming things up, “Shout out to the best player in Region 9. Hope you get better soon #lifesnotfair.”
Gines is in good spirits and said he knows he has an uphill battle ahead of him, but he said he has family, coaches and friends to help him get back to form.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.