Denise Martinez admitted she used to take the game for granted.
But after missing the entire 2013-14 season due to a torn ACL, the San Benito High senior has gained a greater appreciation for all of the little things people tend to overlook on a daily basis.
“I used to take things for granted, which was bad,” said Martinez, a 5-foot-8 guard-forward who is averaging a team-high 13 points per game. “I appreciate every moment now. Every chance I get to play, I’m thankful for. I’m just happy to be back.”
But no one is more ecstatic to see Martinez healthy again than Haybalers coach Mitch Burley, who knows the value of having such a savvy and skilled player back on the team.
Martinez tore the ACL in her left knee in October 2013 playing in the school’s Powder Puff football game.
“Denise has a real good feel for the game, and hopefully she’ll play somewhere next year because her limit is pretty high,” Burley said. “She does things you can’t teach in terms of just knowing how to play the game. With the relatively little experience she has, it’s amazing with the way she can pass, move and see the court.”
Burley was referring to the fact that Martinez only started playing basketball in the seventh grade at Rancho San Justo Middle School. She took up the game on a whim after one of her cousins told her she might excel in the sport.
Martinez played soccer from the age of 4 until her sophomore year. Although Martinez loved soccer, she had to make a choice between basketball or soccer entering high school, since both sports are played during the winter season. Martinez chose basketball, partly because she could still play soccer with her club team for half the year.
However, Martinez ultimately gave up soccer for good during her sophomore year.
“My dad was heartbroken when I stopped playing soccer,” she said. “He still plays today, and he loves the game. But he said he would support me no matter what, and he’s always been a positive influence in my athletic development. It was a tough decision, though, because soccer was my life for such a long time.”
Martinez scored a team-best 14 points in a 48-31 non-league win over Lincoln of San Jose on Dec. 18, improving San Benito’s record to 5-2. The Balers already have one more win than they had all of last season, when they finished 4-20 after three starters went down with season-ending injuries.
Martinez said the rehab was the toughest part of coming back from ACL surgery. Working with renowned physical therapist John Ceglia and his team, Martinez’s recovery couldn’t have gone any better.
“John Ceglia and his staff pushed me everyday to get healthy again, and even though it was hard and painful, it was worth it,” Martinez said. “I feel confident again. I forget about the knee and just try to focus on the game.”
Martinez knew she would feel a bit out of sorts in her first game back, having not played against live competition in nearly two years.
“My first game (against Gunn of Palo Alto on Dec. 4) was horrible,” she said. “I was lost and kind of thought to myself, ‘How do I play basketball again?’”
But it didn’t take Martinez long to get her groove back. In the team’s third game, a 55-53 loss to Lynbrook of San Jose—the team would avenge that defeat two days later—Martinez finished with 12 points.
San Benito’s offense works most effectively when Martinez gets the ball in the elbow area, where she can either drive down the lane or thread a pass to a teammate streaking to the basket.
Last year, Martinez decided she would be on the bench every home game. She felt helpless as she saw a couple of teammates go down with injuries, but something great came out of the situation.
By having something taken away from her, Martinez came back with a greater determination and drive to achieve her potential.
