Like a lot of teams, the Knights ventured out-of-state to compete in tournaments just prior to the Christmas break and were dealt five straight losses, on top of the three in a row incurred just prior to the tournament. Compounded issues considerably was star guard Kennedy Woolston sustaining a season-ending ACL injury during the tournament, which in no doubt contributed substantially to the losing streak.

But Lone Peak proved competitive in every loss taken, and now, after having some decent time to lick its wounds, are rebounding and finding success.

“I thought we came out with great intensity tonight,” said Lone Peak coach Nancy Warner following her team’s win over the Cavemen. “We shifted well defensively, moved the ball well and I just loved how we battled from beginning to end…I’m proud of them for sticking together.”

Cheering all of it on is Woolston, who is about to undergo surgery and the extensive rehab process involved with ACL tears. The future BYU Cougar was on the bench throughout, encouraging her teammates through every stretch, and is likely to do the same for the rest of the season.

“She’s been amazing through all of it and I’m so proud of her,” Warner said. “She’s just an amazing leader and she continues to cheer her teammates and help out wherever she can despite the injury. She’s a true leader and having her there definitely helps lift up everyone. Her injury was devastating, but she’s dealing with it and she’s amazing.”

Without Woolston, who led the Knights in scoring prior to her injury, several players have stepped up big. On Tuesday it was Lave Holdcraft setting the pace with her team-high 15 points scored, with Maddie Pope and Charli Warner adding 14 and 11 points, respectively.

“You’re not going to fill the shoes of Kennedy entirely, but I feel every girl on our team is finding ways to step up where they can,” Warner said. “We have Lave, who is our energizer bunny for us out there, and she’s a beast on the board and does a lot of other things. And there’s so many others, like Lave, who have really lifted their overall play and I feel it’s coming together well.”

With the win over American Fork, Lone Peak improves to 7-9 on the season and will next take on Skyridge at home.