It’s hard to imagine anyone more deserving of getting another chance to play on the court than senior guard/forward Jake Nosek for Metea Valley
Bad luck? Bad breaks?
The 6-foot-8 Nosek has seen more than his share during his varsity basketball career, losing nearly two full seasons to injury.
He returned this week for a third straight game after losing all but the first 19 minutes of his final season due to a broken wrist.
“It’s really just a relief,” Nosek said. “I had surgery Dec. 4, and it was up in the air if I was going to be able to play or not. We learned there was a possibility, so I worked really hard to get back.
“I appreciate being out there with my coaches and teammates. They’re family, and I’m trying to enjoy the end of it because there’s not much left.”
Nosek showed that resolve Tuesday night with a team-high 15 points, but the host Mustangs were hardly a smooth-running machine in a 66-58 nonconference loss to Yorkville in Aurora.
Senior guard Tyler Miller and junior guard Tre Watkins scored 13 points apiece for Metea Valley (16-11). Senior guard Khalil Jones added 11 points. Miller also chalked up seven steals.
“Yorkville played well,” Metea coach Isaiah Davis said. “They controlled the game.”
Taelor Clements, a 6-4 senior forward, closed out a game-high 16 points with a pair of dunks by capping well-executed press breaks for Yorkville (13-14).
Senior guard Gabe Sanders, freshman guard Braydon Porter and freshman forward Joey Jakstys each scored 10 points.
Two freshmen for the Foxes?
“Anyone playing varsity as a freshman is going to be good,” Nosek said of Porter and Jakstys. “You play them like anybody else — go hard, attack and don’t take them lightly.
“I was impressed, but I think we could have done a better job containing them.”
Nosek has been there, being promoted to varsity in the second half of his freshman season and giving the Mustangs a lift in the process.
He then tore two ligaments in his ankle and broke a bone in his foot — all during the preseason — wiping out his sophomore year.
Nosek averaged 10 points and four rebounds while playing every game last season. But he was undercut on a layup in the third quarter of the Nov. 25 season opener, a 76-37 win over Richards.
It was a big start where the future looked bright for Nosek, who scored 20 points with five blocked shots, four rebounds and three assists. He had three dunks and four 3-pointers.
Recruiters, meanwhile are waiting to see how he finishes.
Nosek scored 12 points in a 61-48 win over Naperville North and 11 points in a 76-44 win over Taft, but shot just 1 of 6 on 3-point attempts against Yorkville.
“That wasn’t on the wrist, that was on me,” Nosek said. “The shot wasn’t falling, but the wrist feels good. The full range of motion is not quite there, but I’m happy.
“I’ll take what I can get. I’m happy to play.”
He also tumbled to the floor twice, quickly bouncing back up.
“Hitting the ground, mentally, you just need to get over it,” Davis said. “It’s funny, his parents said they wanted him to take a couple falls. It may help him.”
Metea also missed senior forwards Dominic Smith and Connor Lavery for about a month with injuries but both also are back playing.
“We’re just trying to get everyone in sync, get the rhythm, get the feel,” Nosek said. “(Tuesday) was a bump, but we’re getting there.”
Playing seven games together should help Nosek and the Mustangs be ready for the postseason.
“I’m just glad Jake is able to be out there and finish his senior year on the court,” Davis said. “You can’t really ask for more than that.”
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