Reaber hoping for familiar results

Kasey Reaber spent three seasons fighting like heck to beat Montini on the basketball court.

When Driscoll closed its doors, she vowed, “I'll never wear that jersey.”

Now she calls the Lombard school home.

“I love it here,” Reaber said. “It feels like Driscoll.”

It might take a couple games to get used to seeing Reaber in Broncos maroon and gold this winter. The two-time All-Area guard and starter for Driscoll's 2009 state championship team transferred to Montini in May after a year at Immaculate Conception.

Reaber is far from the only Driscoll alum to land at Montini; her route was just a little more circuitous.

“Yeah, it was a little shocking at first,” Montini senior Whitney Holloway said, “but she's jumped right in. We definitely used to be rivals back in the day, but it's great to have her with us now.”

Truth be told, Reaber might have ended up at Montini last year if she hadn't followed her older sister Taylor to IC. She is very close to her cousin Anthony, who goes to Montini. Reaber plays AAU with Montini seniors Whitney Adams and Kiki Wilson. She said she already feels more comfortable at Montini than she ever did at IC.

“They've made it very easy for me here,” Reaber said.

Reaber has had a tumultous two years. A month after winning a state championship, her school closed. Last season Kasey and Taylor led IC to its first sectional final in 30 years, but Taylor graduated and Knights coach Dan Murray left for Lisle.

Then on July 9 Reaber tore the ACL in her left knee in an AAU game.

“I was upset when it happened,” she said, “but as soon as I knew what the injury was I was focused on getting back.”

Most athletes don't return from ACL tears for six months, at least. Reaber promised herself she wouldn't miss a game.

She had surgery July 21. Therapy followed four days a week. After the first six weeks she started seeing speed and conditioning coach Dan Rumicik.

On Oct. 25 three months and four days after surgery she was cleared to practice and play.

A short turnaround like that makes you feel equal parts concerned and overjoyed for a kid. Montini coach Jason Nichols, who went through two ACL injuries with graduated star Michala Johnson, knows those dueling emotions all too well.

“It's something I'm a little stunned about,” Nichols said. “For a kid at three and a half months after surgery it's pretty amazing what she's doing on the floor. I'm cautiously optimistic. You really want a kid like that to go out with a bang.”

It's hard to imagine Reaber and the Broncos not making noise this year.

You might have to go to Whitney Young to find a trio of guards who can compare with Montini's quick and talented threesome of Holloway, Wilson and Reaber.

One thing is certain: This is a different-looking Bronco team.

The days of “live by the 3, die by the 3” are over.

“We're much quicker,” Holloway said, “which is going to help us on the defensive end. Getting down the court will be much easier. We're not so one-dimensional.”

Rare is the high school athlete who gets to savor two state championships. But to do it at two rival schools?

Come March, Reaber and Montini might celebrate that even rarer of moments.

jwelge@dailyherald.com