By Josh Huff

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Any bit of good news is welcoming for a UK Hoops team mired in a midseason injury spell that claimed another victim on Sunday. Junior point guard Janee Thompson suffered a devastating leg injury that ended her season in the loss against No. 1 South Carolina. Thompson’s injury was the second of the Cats’ after senior guard Bria Goss suffered a broken thumb in December.

The recovery began Monday as Thompson’s surgery to fix her dislocated ankle and a fracture to her fibula was successful.

“Very successful surgery,” said head coach Matthew Mitchell. “(The doctors) are extremely optimistic of her recovery, the possibilities of her recovery and what she will be able to do. (She) will miss the rest of the season, but we are extremely optimistic that about the time the players gather up for summer school in June that she will be fully participating.”

The goal now for the Cats is to move on and become the best they can possibly be. Thompson will be a significant part of that, Mitchell said.

“She has a lot she can still do for this team,” Mitchell added. “She’s developed into an incredible leader … an incredible example of sacrificing her personal things that may have been holding her back as far as her development.”

A powerful force off the court, her on-court contributions will be sorely missed as the two-time SEC Player of the Week leaves a void at the point guard position that will be hard to replace. Faced with that task will be sophomore guard Makayla Epps, who is averaging 12.8 points per game.

“For a sophomore that struggles a little bit with focus, this may be a great thing for her,” Mitchell said of Epps. “She can get really locked in at the point guard position and she knows what she needs to do. Maybe she can fill in here and there sometimes when (senior guard Jennifer O’Neill) is at the point.”

As the reality of continuing the season without its starting point guard sinks in for UK, the tough task of preparing for Thursday’s match against Florida becomes a welcome distraction.

“We have to find a way forward here,” Mitchell said. “And that’s what we’re here working hard to do. That’s what we will do.”