Maricha Tisdell’s hands were supposed to help build her game, not tear it down.
But by the time she finished her freshman year of high school, she had already suffered two finger injuries on opposite hands, setbacks that cost her valuable development time and left her fighting to regain more than just her shot. Now, fully healthy for the first time in years, the Hastings junior isn’t just back on the court; she’s breaking out, leading the team in five statistical categories and proving that resilience can be as powerful as talent.
“I realized this season was going to be different once I was able to make a mistake and stay in the game,” said Tisdell.
This margin for error enabled Tisdell to play with greater freedom. It boosted her confidence to attempt new moves on the court, moves that previously felt intimidating due to the fear of making errors and being benched as a consequence.
Hastings girls varsity coach Corey Brotherton noticed Tisdell’s confidence grow.
“The very first game of the season,” said Brotherton. “She stepped up immediately and posted a double-double that led us to a win. Her poise and the way she competed with that level of confidence right out of the gate told me she was ready and next in line to become a Hastings Lady Bear great.”
But the player Hastings sees today was built through injuries that could’ve easily taken her love of the game away.
In eighth grade, Tisdell broke the ring finger on her left hand during a game, an injury that sidelined her for two months.
“When it happened, I knew it was broken, but I could still bend it, so I kept playing the following game. Later that night, I felt something wasn’t right, so I told my mom, and we went to the ER. That’s when I found out it was broken,” said Tisdell.
Despite the injury, Tisdell still tried to practice.
After returning to the court her freshman year, she suffered another setback, breaking the pinky finger on her right hand. This time, the injury required a cast.
“It’s hard to sit out of the game you love, watching everyone else play, knowing it should be you in the game as well,” said Tisdell. “Not being able to help the team was tough.”
When the cast came off, she expected everything to go back to normal. Instead, she stepped into the hardest part of recovery, learning to trust herself again. After time away from the game, her shooting motion and the feel of the ball in her hands didn’t feel the same.
Missing two years of development affected her mentally and physically.
“My confidence wasn’t there,” said Tisdell. “I felt like I wasn’t the same player and that I was playing hesitantly instead of freely.”
“When she came back as a sophomore, you could see flashes of how good she could be, but she wasn’t playing as freely,” said Brotherton. “Injuries can make players hesitant, especially young ones. I’ve always told her that if she played with confidence and didn’t worry about mistakes, she could be an All-District or even All-State caliber player.”
The stats didn’t show it yet, but behind the scenes, Tisdell was laying the groundwork for the season that would change everything.
“When I realized my fingers could still get hurt, but I just needed to play through it because things happen, that’s when I decided not to let injuries define me anymore,” said Tisdell.
“This season, she finally trusted herself again, and it shows,” said Brotherton.
During the offseason, Tisdell focused on improving her post moves and ball handling.
“I trained, and when it felt like I was still catching up, the thing that kept me going was God,” said Tisdell. “I prayed and trusted in his journey. My family also reminded me of the player I am.”
“She came into her junior season with confidence earned, not given,” said Brotherton. “Our team has to meet mile-time standards in the preseason before they receive practice gear, and she was the first to meet her times. That told me everything I needed to know. She put in the work during the offseason, and when I saw that level of commitment early, I knew she was ready for a big year.”
And once she entered the season healthy, the results didn’t take long to show.
“With her leading our team in points, rebounds, and blocks, it shows her impact on both ends of the floor,” said Brotherton. “We depend on her to play well, especially in big games.”
Tisdell’s ability to score, rebound, and protect the rim gives Hastings’s unit more confidence. This season, she has 30 blocks, averages 8.4 rebounds and 13.4 points per game, and shoots 47% from the floor and 52% from the free-throw line.
“When she’s locked in, her leadership and production help carry us to wins,” said Brotherton.
“Aside from the numbers, I’m most proud of not quitting when it felt like injuries were all I was getting from the sport,” said Tisdell.
But even as the stats stacked up, the most important thing Tisdell gained wasn’t on the scoreboard; it was resilience, patience, and maturity.
“Going through the ups and downs helped me keep going in life and brought me closer to God,” said Tisdell. “I learned that when I put my mind to something, I can do it.”
Now, instead of dwelling on what she lost, Tisdell is focused on what she still has time to become.
“Maricha’s ceiling is very high,” said Brotherton.
Two broken fingers slowed her down. But the player she became because of them might be the strongest part of her game.
“I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone but to myself,” said Tisdell. “I want to remember this season as my breakout season, when I finally played the way I knew how to play. My biggest goal is to stay humble, trust God, and be confident while leading my team to the playoffs.”
