Andrea Dorezas is a junior for Fallston girls basketball. But until recently, she’s spent more time off the hardwood than on it.

Dorezas tore her ACL in her right knee in eighth grade, sidelining her for nearly her entire freshman basketball season. Then, just after her sophomore season concluded, she tore her meniscus in the same knee.

Two major knee surgeries as a teen would put an immediate end to most athletic careers. But the time Dorezas spent seated at the end of Fallston’s bench on practice and game days only fueled her desire to return to the court. Now, she’s back and contributing to a Cougars team that is 8-4 nearing the midway point of their season.

How’d she do it, and how did those setbacks alter her perspective? Dorezas recently spoke with The Aegis to detail her recovery and basketball journey.

How has this season gone for Fallston?

I think that it’s been going pretty good. We’re all new-ish to playing together, because there were a few seniors that graduated last year and a bunch of us came up from JV. So it’s a newer team and I think we’re coming along. Everyone’s kind of getting used to playing together. And I think we’ll be a strong team as the season goes on.

What are the challenges of having so many new faces?

Learning when people want the ball at certain times, or just how everyone plays defense, just getting used to like playing for everyone.

How has your season gone individually?

For me, it’s just about being aggressive. It’s a little like a mental block, because I’ve been through this like twice now. Just trying to go after the ball even though maybe I don’t feel 100% confident. Getting on the floor and getting over a mental block is a little bit challenging.

How did the injuries occur?

The first one happened at spring AAU practice. We were scrimmaging; I just kind of stepped wrong. And then last year, it was less than a week after we finished our season, and it actually happened when I was playing soccer. I shot the ball and then landed on it wrong, and my leg kind of twisted and then it popped. I spent all the offseason going to the gym and building up that muscle again.

What was the process like of working back from both injuries?

It was very similar. I went to the same doctor and surgeon, and I went to the same physical therapist who I really liked. Throughout the spring and the summer, I worked out at PT a lot to build up some of that strength. Eventually, I went to the gym a bunch to help with that, and then a few months back now, going to the basketball gym and shooting and practicing again and getting ready for the season, getting back into the swing of basketball.

How did you handle that mentally?

I had a very different mental outlook on it each time. The first time it happened, I think I really focused on the negative a lot. I didn’t get to play my freshman soccer season, and then I only got to play a little bit of the basketball season. So it was really hard to watch all my teammates play. I feel like it was more of a mental challenge. Like, ‘OK, you got this, it’s almost time for you to play again, you’re gonna be OK.’ And then I think this time it was hard to watch my teammates play and that sort of thing. But it gave me a bigger appreciation for getting back to playing now. Now I enjoy going to practice a lot more than I did before. It’s just a much more positive experience to go basketball and get to play, whereas before, the first time, I was dreading going and watching all my friends play the sports that I like to play. But obviously now I can play. But before that, I was excited to go cheer on my teammates because I knew eventually I’d be back.

Do you still play through pain?

There definitely are still some physical limitations, like when I go to step out to slide on defense, or knowing that if I step the wrong way or slide the wrong way or twist my foot the wrong way, my knee is already weaker. So I already know that it’s more vulnerable in that situation. There’s definitely physical limits. I have to know what they are.

Were there moments throughout the process where you thought you wouldn’t play again?

Not really. This happens to a lot of people, so I know that I’m just another person that’s done it. So it’s just like. ‘I’m gonna be OK.’ A lot of people have gone through the same process and made it back to go play in college, go play professionally. I knew that I was gonna be fine by the end of it.

Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.