After a torn ACL, Lincoln-Way Central’s Lina Panos picks up pieces and comes back stronger. ‘I feel confident.’

Rehab has healed the torn ACL. After nearly a year, her right knee is strong.

Lincoln-Way Central junior Lina Panos has also conquered the fear.

That was evident with a conference title on the line Tuesday night against Lincoln-Way West. Panos bodied up in the lane, under the basket and even while flat on the floor.

“I have had such a great recovery, a great physical therapist, great doctors,” Panos said. “I feel confident out on the court just playing my game.”

The 6-foot forward was at the top of her game as Knights defeated the Warriors 48-41 to clinch the SouthWest Suburban Red title.

Panos paced Lincoln-Way Central (21-9, 8-0) with 10 points and eight rebounds. Azyah Newson-Cole had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Gracen Gehrke contributed nine points and Keira Hunt added seven.

Ava Gugliuzza led Lincoln-Way West (21-9, 6-2) with 21 points. Caroline Smith added five points and 11 rebounds, while Chyne Lewis had five points.

Panos has brought an added dimension to Lincoln-Way Central’s lineup since making her season debut on Jan. 14. In her second game back, she scored 12 points against Neuqua Valley.

“It felt great,” Panos said. “I was nervous coming back, as anyone would be. But having my teammates’ support made me feel so much more comfortable on the court. I felt like I was myself again.”

In Tuesday’s game against Lincoln-Way West, she was the top scorer and rebounder for the Knights during a tough first half.

Her braced-up right knee? It didn’t stop her from sprawling to the floor for one loose ball, during which she wrestled it away from a Lincoln-Way West player and pitched it out to a teammate.

“West came out and they played physical and strong,” Panos said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We just played our game and pushed out for the win.”

Her final numbers Tuesday were an uptick on her average of 7.7 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Because of Panos, Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Campanile has high expectations for the upcoming Class 4A state playoffs and then next season.

“Since Lina has been back, she has been a huge part of our kind of peaking at the right time,” Campanile said. “Next year, hopefully she’ll be a double-double machine.

“She’ll certainly be a staple in the starting lineup. We’re expecting big things.”

Panos was a major contributor last season until a sectional game against Bolingbrook.

“I was getting a pass and I ran into a girl,” Panos said. “My knee planted the wrong way and it twisted. After the surgery, it was a long 10-11 months, with lots of recovery and lots of physical therapy.

“Having my teammates’ support and everybody welcoming me back was so important to me. They pushed me to recover and get back to where I was.”

Panos, meanwhile, pushed the rehab. But she didn’t rush the return.

“Lina showed great maturity for her age,” Campanile said. “She was very composed. She’s a kid who doesn’t show a lot of ups and downs. She can take everything in stride and is able to deal with things better than most people.

“She handled it like a professional. We knew she would rehab, take to the commitment and do all the little things and every stretch they told her to do. We knew she would battle back and handle it the way her character shows.”

Hunt found inspiration in watching the comeback.

“I’m so proud of her,” Hunt said. “Honestly, an ACL tear is a big thing. No one really knows how people are going to come back from it. But she worked really hard.

“Lina was such a big part of our team, such a good communicator on the court. Having her back with us completes us.”