There has been no better sight this fall than to see Katie Koestler taking jumpers on the St. Aloysius basketball court.

A year ago, Koestler was near death, trying to recover from a mysterious brain illness. After a miraculous recovery, Koestler, a 5-foot-9 forward, has been cleared to play her senior season at St. Al.

“Words can’t express how great it is to be able to do this again,” a beaming Koestler said after practice last week. “Never have I been so happy, or so excited to start a basketball season.”

St. Aloysius schedule

Two years ago, Koestler was the Lady Flashes’ third scoring option and its top rebounder on a club that won 21 games. Last year, however, was a rough one as Katie battled for her life and her mother Carla, who was to be the new St. Al coach, had to step away to be with her daughter.

While Katie recovered, St. Al didn’t, struggling home with a 4-18 record.

Things should be better this season. Not only is Koestler back to solidify the inside, the Lady Flashes will be led by Gary Miller, who won two state titles at Clinton High School in the early 1990s. Miller stepped in to finish out last season with the boys after Larry Smith left after just seven games.

“We have a long way to go,” Miller said after putting his girls through a long practice session against a pressure defense.

“I think going to Florida this summer for a week did a lot of good for us. Our biggest problem has been the same with the boys and that’s getting everybody out here at the same time. We’ve maybe put in about 10 percent of things I like to run. It’s a lot of new stuff for them,” Miller said.

For Koestler, though, it’s not that complicated.

“There is some similarities from Coach Bonner, like how we break the press,” Koestler said.

Miller says he’s glad to have someone like Koestler.

“Katie sees the game and knows what to do,” Miller adds.

Miller will have two guards who got a lot of playing time in Carlye Smith and Ashtin Giambrone. The pair will have to replace all-county guard Elizabeth Mazzanti, who led the team with 14 points per game last season. Smith has a good shooting touch and Giambrone has quick feet.

Senior Aden Rials came on during the final part of the season and should give the Lady Flashes some scoring punch from the wing. Tori Hines will provide Koestler with some help in the post.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.