SCHENECTADY — There is both joy and conviction to the way Mia’Rose Wylie plays the game of basketball these days. Not so long ago, her love for the sport began to wane. Lost time both because of the coronavirus pandemic, followed by a season-ending knee injury prior to the start of her sophomore season, has helped reinvigorate Wylie’s passion to compete.
Anyone watching Wylie play now only sees a relentless dynamo at both ends of the floor who looks to lead the Bishop Gibbons girls’ basketball team to the top in Class D.
“This is really my first real basketball season,” Wylie said. “Last year I was hurt. The year before, I was a freshman. I was on varsity as an eighth grader at Scotia. I feel like I didn’t like basketball like I do now. My teammates and my coach (Pat Moran) have helped. The injury was bad, but I wouldn’t change anything.”
Wylie, who was named as the Western Athletic Conference Mohawk Division’s Co-Most Valuable Player this season (she shared the honor with Northville sophomore guard Hailey Monroe), suffered an injury to her left knee cap during the team’s first scrimmage preparing for 2021-22 season. She had surgery on the knee in January of 2022.
“I am a pretty good spectator, but I have played basketball forever, so it was tough watching,” Wylie said. “It was great coming back.”
“Whether it is practice or a game, she is giving 100 percent,” Moran said. “She never stops.”
Wylie tops the Golden Knights in scoring at 16.4 points per game and her energy and effectiveness at both ends of the floor have proved vital in the team reaching the state playoffs for the first time since 2019. Saturday, the Golden Knights (14-7), ranked No. 19 in the state, look to secure a Class D state final four berth when they take on Section VII champion Seton Catholic (15-7) at Hudson Valley Community College. Game time is noon.
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