Liberty’s Crummett is back after missing last season’s championship run

Members of the 2010-11 Liberty girls basketball team have rings that immortalize their Group AA Division 4 state championship.

Aubri Crummett has a scar on each of her shins instead.

Liberty’s senior starting point guard this season, Crummett missed all of the Eagles’ state championship run last season due to leg injuries she suffered playing basketball for Liberty as a sophomore. She spent her junior season recovering from surgery needed to abate compartment syndrome that afflicted her shins.

So she wasn’t on Liberty’s 2010-11 roster, and didn’t get a state championship ring, and couldn’t celebrate with the Eagles after they beat Loudoun County, 68-55, in the state final March 12.

“Let’s just say I cried,” Crummett said of knowing the Eagles won the state title without her. “It’s motivation to go even harder now because I didn’t get the ring last year.”

Crummett has helped Liberty win seven consecutive game en route to a 7-1 record thus far this season. The Eagles hope to qualify for the 2011-12 state tournament after winning a state game last season for the first time in program history (3-1 all-time state record).

“She wants it badly because she missed last year,” Liberty coach Lauren Milburn said. “She’s doing a good job. She’s a great defensive player. She hustles all over the place.”

Crummett is one of five players on the Eagles’ 10-person roster who did not play varsity last season, but she brings poise and some experience to the vital position of point guard. Crummett got varsity experience in 2009-10 as a sophomore guard who played sparingly off the bench.

“I’m really glad to have her back this year,” Liberty’s star senior Liz Wood said. “She’s really smart about the game and runs the floor really well…. She brings a lot of knowledge and good court vision. She’s pretty level-headed, a good quality for a point guard. She’s disciplined. She’s a good ballhandler.”

A 5-foot-4 senior, Crummett has averaged 4.5 assists, 4.1 points, 3.3 steals and 1.7 rebounds per game this season.

“I feel like I’m better right now than I thought I would be,” she said after Liberty’s second game of 2011-12. “But tons of room for improvement.”

Crummett began this season with the unenviable task of replacing Katie Reeves. For four seasons at Liberty, Reeves served as starting point guard before she graduated following last season. Reeves, who now plays at Lynchburg College, averaged 5.3 points, four assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 rebounds per game as a senior at Liberty.

“I kind of always looked up to her, so I’m just trying to do my best to fill her shoes,” Crummett said. “Not replace her — just trying to step it up.”