McMahan likely done with ACL tear

Lady Vols signee suffers second injury to right knee

Before it really even got started, Cait McMahan's senior season is all but over.

A preliminary examination conducted Tuesday indicates the Heritage High School All-American guard and UT Lady Vols signee tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a game Saturday.

McMahan was evaluated by University of Tennessee orthopedist Dr. Bill Youmans and underwent an MRI exam on Tuesday. Results of the test won't be known until later this week, but Heritage coach Rick Howard said he expects McMahan's season is finished.

"As of right now, we've been told it's an ACL (tear)," Howard said. "It'd be a miracle if she got to come back. Hopefully that MRI might show it's a partial tear or something, but I just don't see it happening."

A torn ACL means surgery and likely six months of rehabilitation.

McMahan injured the knee as she went up for a reverse layup near the 6-minute mark of the fourth quarter in a 68-63 victory over Austin-East. She initially was cleared by trainers and returned to the game for one play before the knee gave out again.

Last season, McMahan sprained the medial collateral ligament in the same knee during the last game of the regular season. That injury didn't require surgery, but McMahan, who averaged 20.9 points a game last season, missed the rest of the playoffs.

This injury is the ultimate low after a month of highs for McMahan and the Lady Mountaineers.

McMahan, a two-time Class AAA Miss Basketball finalist, signed scholarship papers with Tennessee earlier this month. She also was named a preseason All-American by Street and Smith's, and the Lady Mountaineers began the season ranked No. 15 nationally by USA Today.

"I think she's pretty devastated," said Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, who spoke with McMahan by phone Tuesday. "It's her senior year. You go through a lot, no matter when it happens, but it's probably more difficult for her considering the timing."

Still, McMahan should be healthy in time to join the Lady Vols next fall. Tennessee players Candace Parker, Sade Wiley-Gatewood, Alex Fuller and Sidney Spencer all suffered knee injuries and underwent surgery last season.

The Lady Vols managed a trip to the Final Four last season despite the spate of injuries. The Lady Mountaineers would love to experience the same kind of success.

After McMahan's injury last season, Heritage defeated rival William Blount in the District 4-AAA semifinals. The Lady Mountaineers lost their next two games and were eliminated by Karns in the Region 2-AAA tournament.

Sophomore Katie Brooks likely will start in place of McMahan, as she did last season. Guards Hillary Tipton and Karly Stache also will be relied on more heavily with McMahan out.

"It's going to have to be a team effort," Howard said. "They all have to pick their games up a notch, take it up another level and compete."

A longtime family friend, Howard said he expects McMahan to make a full recovery.

"It's devastating, there's no doubt about it," he said. "It's heart-wrenching for her and her family. But she'll survive; she's tough.

"Three or four months down the road, she'll be shooting, getting ready to go to Tennessee."