LAURINBURG — Bruce Wall wasn’t himself when he joined the Scotland High basketball team after football season ended in December.
The senior forward’s intangibles — including athleticism, IQ and hustle — were all there. But his perimeter shots just weren’t falling. And his right knee continued to be supported by a brace, which limited his movement at times and caused discomfort.
That brace was a reminder of the ACL injury that costed Wall his junior football and basketball seasons. Wall has worked hard to break out of his early-season slump, just like he pushed himself to come back stronger after that injury.
“I just had to get in the gym more,” Wall said after Scotland’s 57-54 win over Richmond on Friday night. “That’s what I did. And my coaches and teammates just believed in me.”
Wall had one of his best outings of the season in that rivalry win. He finished with 12 points, including one 3-pointer, as well as five rebounds.
He was also a vocal leader, helping boost Scotland’s morale even when the Raiders gained momentum late in the game.
“It was a must-win for us,” Wall said. “We lost two back-to-back. We were tired of losing. We had to step up and get a win tonight, and we got it. We played as a team.”
Wall is looking like himself again —a versatile 6-foot-2 forward who is capable of crashing the boards, driving to the basket or attacking from the perimeter efficiently.
And the brace has been gone for several weeks.
“I’ve got a lot more freedom than I had with it on,” Wall said. “The brace is heavy on my leg. I feel better without it.”
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