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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Doreen Bonsu's biggest rebound By Herb Garbutt Sports 19 | Friday, March 21, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Holy Trinity grad overcomes career-threatening concussion to help Golden Hawks reach national tournament D S high school are the reason I want to teach." Bonsu went on to represent Halton three times at Oakville Beaver staff the Hamilton Spectator Classic. It was during her seoreen Bonsu lay in a darkened room, her head nior year that she caught Falco's eye. throbbing. She had no appetite. Sitting up was "I just loved the way she competed, how intense a chore. She felt weak. she was," he said. "I knew she would be a great leader Not being able to play basketball was one thing, but for us." Bonsu couldn't even take refuge in her schoolwork. Bonsu delivered on that promise. She led Laurier in Her eyes were far too sensitive to the light and reading rebounds, pulling down more than 150 in each of her just caused her head to ache even more. second and third years. Those first two weeks were brutal, but she knew "I'm small in comparison to the other post playit would pass. Eventually she was able to venture ers," she says. "I have to be a little more intense, but beyond the walls of her bedroom at Wilfrid Laurier it's something I take pride in." University but it would be months before she could ···· participate in any physical activity. lmost nine months since suffering her first The summer months, the most important time for concussion, Bonsu returned to practice in building up strength and endurance for the coming early November with the doctor's words -- season, came and went. Training camp for what would you may have to give up basketball -- still ringing in be her final season with the Golden Hawks began and her ears. Fortunately, that was all she experienced. still she could only watch from the sidelines. "Through God's grace, I didn't feel any symptoms," Finally, after some light exercise produced no sympshe said. toms, she was given the clearance to join practice in On Nov. 15, Bonsu returned to the court for a game the first week of October. Bonsu had not made it to against the Queen's Gaels. She came off the bench Laurier by taking it easy. As she ran drills and her and played just 14 minutes, but still shared the team heart rate rose, she felt a sharp pain in the right side lead in rebounds with five. of her head. "I remember asking her how she felt after that She visited the doctor and the news was not good. game," Falco said. "You could tell from her smile. At Rest and try again in a few of weeks, but if the sympthat point she was just so happy to be back playing toms persisted, she was told, she might have to give with the girls. She was excited and relieved." up basketball. Falco used Bonsu strategically, saving her for key How did it come to this? moments in the game. Though her per game aver"I don't remember, to be honest," Bonsu says. ages dropped (from 8.1 rebounds, 8.6 points per Laurier coach Paul Falco does. It was Feb. 9 of last game in 2012-13 to 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 points this seayear in a game against the Western Mustangs. Bonsu son), Bonsu was playing almost 10 fewer minutes per had just pulled down her 11th rebound of the game game. On a per minute basis, they were the best stats and as she rose for a shot, she was struck in the head of her career and her rebounding numbers were betby an elbow. It didn't look serious at first but after the ter than many of the top-10 rebounders in Canada. game Bonsu began experiencing headaches. There Bonsu's efforts were rewarded with the OUA's Tracy was a little more than a week left in the regular season MacLeod Award, presented to the player demonand Falco hoped she would be able to return for the Oakville's Doreen Bonsu (left) of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks drives to the basket against the strating determination, perseverance and unwavWestern Mustangs. Bonsu missed nine months after suffering a concussion, but returned to action ering spirit. The honour is named after the former playoffs. in November -- still a dominating rebounder despite being just 5-foot-6 -- to help Laurier reach Brandon University player who returned to action The symptoms only got worse, though. Bonsu the national championship tournament. She was named the Ontario University Athletics winner of after having her leg amputated -- the result of comdidn't play again and as the new season approached, the Tracy MacLeod Award for the player demonstrating determination, perseverance and unwaver- plications after snapping the fibula and tibia in her she wondered if she ever would again. ing spirit. | photo by Trevor Mahoney -- WLU Athletics right leg in a game. "I had to think about my future," she said. "I wanted to play basketball so badly, but I also wanted a "Obviously, what I went through is nothing comhealthy, functioning brain in 10 years." dominant rebounder. After she led Holy Trinity to victory in pared to her," Bonsu said. ···· the Halton final in Grade 9, the opposing coach, Mike JohnStill, the traits the award recognizes have been on full discan the list of the top 25 Ontario University Athletics ston, said of Bonsu, "She's just extremely athletic and really play this season. In addition to her rebounding, Bonsu has rebounders. Half of them are at least 6-foot, including a strong and aggressive," he said. "She was definitely the differ- been an inspirational leader on and off the court, helping Lautrio standing 6-foot-3. The average height is 5-foot-11. ence-maker." rier edge Carleton 70-65 in double overtime to earn a trip to And then there is Bonsu, all 5-foot-6 of her. As devoted as Bonsu was to the game, she says it was her the national championships. "She just finds a way to get the job done," Falco says. teachers at Holy Trinity that made the difference for her. Bonsu hadn't been to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Bonsu first picked up a basketball in Grade 4. She learned "They were channeling their passion for the game through championships since she was a rookie. Injuries to her wrist to battle for her place on the court playing against the guys me," said Bonsu, who has applied to teacher's college. "They and last season's concussion had kept her from competing in on the playground at recess and against her brother and his spent so much time teaching me the skills that allow me to the playoffs the last two years. friends on the weekends. play at this level. They opened up the gym early so I could Although Laurier came away without a win -- falling 58-51 "The boys were a lot tougher," she said. shoot, they took us to tournaments where we could be seen, to McGill in its final game -- Bonsu said finishing her career By high school, she had already established herself as a told me what to look for in a school. The teachers I had in at nationals was "pretty sweet." A