Girls’ basketball: Rose rises back to the top for Culver City

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Her sophomore year was painful -- one bad rotator cuff, two arthroscopic surgeries and an entire season wiped out.

Just one year earlier, Leigha Rose starred as a freshman for the Culver City girls’ basketball team, even making the all-league team, but her shoulder kept hurting, kept dislocating. ‘There was pain and it would come while I was playing,’ she said.

The surgeries soon followed. Her sophomore season was nixed. And Rose sat on the bench, just watching. ‘I did not like the fact that I was sitting out,’ she said. ‘I was disappointed.’

But Rose stayed busy -- and focused -- running track, working out with her father and squeezing in endless physical therapy. Then came her junior season and Rose has returned stronger. And better. ‘I’ve had to build up my confidence and play catch-up,’ she said.

And caught up she has. Rose, who averages a team-best 12.5 points, can spark the offense with slick passing or a sweet jumper. ‘You could tell she was anxious to play,’ Culver City Coach Jack Nakanishi said. ‘And you can see that she’s gotten better and better.’

Rose is a big reason the Centaurs (19-3, 5-1) stand perched atop the Ocean League, as Nakanishi pointed out: ‘Leigha is just an outstanding player and also an outstanding person.’

And he’s right -- she is.

-- Anthony Stitt

-- Image from http://weeklyrose.com