Montini's Johnson out for season

After just eight minutes of game action, Michala Johnson's season is over.

The 6-foot-3 Montini junior, one of the top players in the Class of 2010, will have surgery on a left knee she reinjured a week ago.

Johnson first suffered the injury diagnosed as a stretched left ACL in late July. After extensive rehabilitation Johnson was cleared to play last week against Von Steuben in the Whitney Young Thanksgiving Tournament. After eight minutes of play, where she had 2 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks, Johnson came down hard leaping for a pass in transition. She has not played since.

Johnson was examined by the doctors Thursday, who found a partially torn ACL. Season-ending surgery was recommended. Johnson could return during the summer, but Montini coach Jason Nichols said she won't play over the summer in expectations of being 100 percent by next fall.

"She could have had surgery before," Nichols said, "but at the time the doctors felt we could strengthen the knee with therapy. It just did not work out. At this time the only way to repair it is through surgery. Michala and her family are content with the decision and that's all that matters. It's a little setback but certainly not the end of her career."

All-state as a sophomore, Johnson averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in leading Montini to the Class 3A semifinals. She is ranked No. 16 nationally, according to ESPN, in the junior class.

Without Johnson the Broncos are 5-1 heading into Friday night's game against St. Francis, with the only loss to defending Class 4A champion Whitney Young. Montini plays at Freeport on Saturday night in a matchup of teams ranked Nos. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Associated Press Class 3A preseason poll.

"There's some closure in my mind now," Nichols said. "Now we know that this is what we have, this is our team and we're still pretty darn good."