AUBURN — Kirsten Prue and her Edward Little teammates were hoping for good news on Tuesday but got the worst instead.

The senior guard was told that her injured foot was indeed a stress fracture, and that put her out for the season. It’s a difficult setback for Prue, who missed the end of her soccer season because of a concussion.

“I think she held out hope,” said EL coach Craig Jipson. “Until they did the MRI (Tuesday), they couldn’t say 100 percent. I think she was holding out hope. She really wanted to come back. It’s really a tough way to end especially after soccer ended the same way for her.”

Prue had been experiencing pain in her foot and decided to have it checked out last week. The initial prognosis wasn’t good, but Prue and the Red Eddies kept their fingers crossed that it might be a lesser injury and allow her to return by tournament time.

“She had some pain and it was getting worse,” said Jipson. “She had it checked during finals week before the Messalonskee game. The doctor said she thought it might be a stress fracture. She was able to get in for an MRI and that confirmed it. She’s out for six weeks.”

Prue had just scored her 1,000th point two weeks ago and has been a four-year starter for the Red Eddies. Her club, the defending KVAC champs, were ranked first in Eastern A and were poised for another run at the conference crown and a possible regional title. EL has dropped two straight games since Prue has been sidelined.

“It’s devastating for her, but I think she’ll be back,” said Jipson. “If she’s fortunate enough to get selected, she should be able to come back for the McDonald’s all-star game and have a great career at Bowdoin. She certainly given us everything that she could.”

Prue will likely be a semi-finalist for Miss Basketball and should get consideration as a finalist candidate considering she’s been one of the top players in the KVAC the last four years. She was the South Player of the Year last year and has led EL to four straight playoff berths. After going 8-10 her freshman season, losing in the Eastern A quarterfinals, the Red Eddies won 10 games her sophomore year and followed that up with a 16-2 record and conference title a year ago. EL was 12-1 this year before she was sidelined.

Prue led the KVAC South this year in scoring (15.3) and assists (4.8) and was third with 24 3-pointers and fifth in free throw percentage (73 percent).

“I think what says a lot about Kirsten’s character is that she’s turned into our biggest cheerleader on the bench,” said Jipson. “She really wants them to win. She’s been very ecstatic for them.”

EL does have the luxury of some depth, even though breaking in a new point guard will be a challenge. Prue’s presence as a leader, shooter, passer, defender and heart and soul of the team won’t be easily replaced. That’s something EL will have to adjust to down the stretch.

“What’s frustrating is that we’ve played pretty well the last two games and played well enough to beat Messalonskee and Oxford Hills, two tournament teams,” said Jipson. “We threw it away or missed some shots at the end of the game. For the last three-and-two-thirds seasons,  Prue was the kid taking those shots. We always had someone to put the game in their hands.”

EL finishes the regular season with Morse, Mt. Ararat and Lewiston. With a playoff berth already secured, EL will have the chance to get acclimated to life without Prue on the court.

“We just need everyone to get better,” said Jipson. “We know we’re going to Augusta. We have enough wins to get to Augusta. When we get to the Civic Center, we hope to still make a little run because we’ve shown the last two games that we can still win.”

Lending A Hand

The Rangeley Lakers have won six straight and have crept up the Western D standings after an 0-4 start, and now their cause may be helped by the return of sophomore forward Emily Carrier. The 5-foot-11 post player fractured her wrist with three seconds left in a Christmas tournament game against Mt. Abram. She’s closer to returning to action, which should bolster the Lakers roster.

“She’s practiced every night,” said Rangeley coach Heidi Deery. “She can’t catch the ball or anything but any drill she can do one-headed, she’s been working doing that. I can’t believe that won’t make her stronger.”

Carrier has been one of those devoted players that works hard during the summer and has been diligent about learning and improving. Her injury was a bit of a setback, but her return should be a boost to the lineup.

“I’m hopeful that she’ll be able to contribute,” said Deery. “We’ll find out Thursday whether it will be two week or whether she can tape it and play. We’re trying not to be overly optimistic but we’re hopeful.”

Watching Carrier work so hard with her opposite hand during her injury has Deery wondering if that might be a good means of helping other players improve their opposite hands. It’s an experiment she might try in future summer sessions, she says.

“I might bandage up their right had so they get a left hand,” said Deery.