Pearl River Girls Basketball Loses Grossbard for 2011-12 Season

Pearl River senior point guard Nicole Grossbard got the final word earlier this week.

She received a second opinion confirming that she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee playing AAU basketball this summer. The injury will keep her from playing her senior year for the Pirates.

"She just got the final news," said Pearl River head coach Lorraine Moylan. "She went to a couple of doctors. She’s just been getting better and better. It’s just sad. I feel bad for her. Her senior year not getting to play."

Grossbard moved to the point last season and emerged as one of the Pirates' top players. Grossbard is an excellent defender who earned second-team all-county honors as a junior, helping the Pirates reach the Section 1 Class A championship game. Her presence was one reason that Pearl River was expected to be a favorite for a section championship this season.

"I'm sad for my team," Moylan said. "It happens. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age it happens a lot. We will wrap our head around it and see what we have to do. We have some pieces to put together."

Grossbard verbally committed to play college basketball for So. Connecticut State, a Division II program, after the injury.

"She's going to be operated on and she will be healthy to play next year," Moylan said.