Boys Basketball: Glenbrook North loses McAuliffe to injury

Updated: December 12, 2011 8:27PM

Andrew McAuliffe is going to have many more games like Friday’s.

The 6-foot-8 Glenbrook North junior center got hurt in the team’s Dec. 6 win over Niles North and was on the bench for Friday’s overtime loss to Deerfield, the team’s first defeat of the season. He learned Monday he fractured the patella on his right knee and will be out up to six weeks.

“That was really tough,” McAuliffe said of the 48-42 loss to Deerfield that dropped the Spartans to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the CSL North. “I don’t doubt the team can win without me, but it’s tough to watch knowing I can’t do anything to help.”

McAuliffe said the injury happened in the first quarter of the Niles North game after he was fouled and fell on his knee. He continued to play the rest of the game and finished with a career-high 29 points in the 67-39 victory over the Vikings.

“It was bad luck I landed on it funny,” said McAuliffe, a varsity player since his freshman season. “Because I was warmed up, it didn’t hurt too much. Once I sat down, it got stiff and started to hurt.”

After arriving home that night, McAuliffe’s knee pain persisted. He went to the emergency room for a consultation and MRI. The bad news came Monday.

“It’s definitely frustrating being hurt in the middle of the season,” he said. “But I am not going to help my team if I have a negative attitude. I will try to stay positive, but it’s not going to be easy.

“I will try my best to be a leader.”

McAuliffe is wearing an immobilizer brace on his knee and is walking without crutches. He said he might be able to ride a stationary bike or exercise on an elliptical machine in one or two weeks.

“I am going to take my rehab seriously and do my best to stay in shape, knowing I could be back this season,” McAuliffe said.

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