SportsInk.com Photo

Green girls basketball senior captain Selana Reale is the SportsInk.com Athlete of the Week for Feb. 9-15.

Green High School Athletic Director Mark Pfaff pays Selana Reale the ultimate compliment for an athlete:  “If I was in a pickup game of basketball, she would be my first pick,” Pfaff said in describing Reale, this week's SportsInk.com’s Athlete of the Week, Selana Reale. 
 

“I love the fast pace of the game and the intensity,” Reale said. Little did she know two months ago that her senior season would be abruptly interrupted with a knee injury. The injury forced the senior leader to miss 10 games of this special season for the Green team. “It was really hard being out that long. I was taking therapy three days a week for two hours each day,” Reale said.

With the playoff season starting next week, Reale (pronounced “real”) is at about 90 percent.

It started for Selana Reale in third grade when her dad introduced her to the game, and she ran with the sport after that. 

 “I love the sport and I know I play volleyball as well, but that is just a fun sport for me. Basketball is it,” said Reale. “My specialty is defense, I love that part of the game.”

“Her in-your-face defense is outstanding,” said Pfaff.

“She is not only a top athlete but also has carried her skills to the classroom as well,” Pfaff said. Reale is a 4.0 grade point average student and is hoping to get into the medical field in college.

 As a junior Selana missed five games after she broke her nose and suffered a concussion. “Even though I had the injury, I love the physical part of the game,” Reale said.

Tony Whitmer’s girls basketball team will often scrimmage against the boys team at Green to make his teams more physical. 

Selana is one of four children and all four are heavily in sports. 

Selana performs in the classroom as well as she is a National Honor Society member, four year member of Student Council and heads up the school newspaper.  

“I love being part of this team as we all pull for each other; I think we have a special team this year”. One thing for sure is that this senior leader, who has battled back from injury, is not going to let her fellow Bulldog teammates down in playoff time. “She’s just tenacious” said Pfaff.

FAVORITES: 

TV:  One Tree Hill

Movie:  The Proposal

Snack:  cookies

IPod:  Remember the Name (Fort Minor)