PEORIA – Peoria Notre Dame’s Kaitlin Cassidy could hardly hold back the tears before Thursday night’s game against Abingdon-Avon.
The senior, a crucial part of the Irish’s success during her career, hadn’t played all season after suffering an ACL tear four months ago. It was senior night, the last game that she would experience as a player in the Kitchen.
She stood on the baseline, alone underneath the basket, while her teammates warmed up as her emotions swept over.
But minutes later, Cassidy heard her name called in the starting lineup one last time to rousing applause. And shortly after that, she got to do something one last time.