KARNS CITY — Her left hand was encased in a heavy wrap.

Under the layers of skin-colored medical wrap and splint was LeeAnn Gibson's broken ring finger, repaired with a metal plate and eight screws.

Gibson wasn't going to be able to play for her Karns City girls basketball team. Not on this night.

Yet the junior forward put on her uniform anyway.

“I felt like I'm still a part of the team and I couldn't not dress,” Gibson said. “I'm not that type of person. It stunk to sit on the bench during games in my uniform, but I wanted to be a full part of the team.”

Gibson was the centerpiece of a Karns City team that won its second consecutive District 9 Class AA championship and advanced to the state playoffs.

She led the Gremlins in scoring at 13.4 points per game and in rebounds at 8.5 boards per contest.

For her efforts on — and off — the court, Gibson was named the 2014-15 Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Gibson shared the award last season with Julia Baxter of Butler.

This season, she edged out Sam Breen of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Ali Goetz of Mars and Zoe Soilis of Freeport.

Gibson broke her finger doing something she has done many times for the Gremlins: going up for a rebound.

Against Venango Catholic on that Saturday afternoon in February, the basketball hit her finger in just the right angle, cracking the bone just below the knuckle.

She knew there was something wrong, but went back into the game anyway.

“It was crooked but it was taped back together,” Gibson said. “I didn't even want to go get an X-ray.”

But Gibson did and the results were startling.

“The doctor said it was broken and I needed immediate surgery,” she said.

Her season, through, remarkably wasn't over.

Gibson only missed three games and returned for the Gremlins' playoff run.

She scored 53 points in those three games and went over 1,000 points in her career in the state playoff loss to Burrell.

Gibson battled pain in those games, however, as much as she did the opponent.

“It's painful to play, but not bad. I was able to block it out,” Gibson said. “The other teams knew about it and they went after it, smacking at my hand.”

Gibson was undeterred. She didn't know she had surpassed 1,000 career points until after the loss in the state playoffs.

“After that game I put my arm around her and told her, 'Hey, congrats on getting your 1,000th point,” said Karns City girls basketball coach Dave Kerschbaumer. “I asked her, 'School record next?' She said, 'You bet.'”

Kerschbaumer said Gibson is the first Karns City girls basketball player to reach the milestone before her senior season.

With 1,004 career points now, Gibson needs 492 next season to catch all-time leading scorer Elizabeth Whitmer.

Kerschbaumer said he wouldn't be surprised if she found a way to get it.

“She's just so solid in everything she does,” the coach said. “She goes out and scores points, gets rebounds, gets steals. She didn't get the ball a lot, but when we needed a clutch basket, she got it for us.”

Gibson said she was happy to get her 1,000th point this season and to be recognized as the player of the year because of her close relationship with the seniors.

“They are a big reason why I was able to get this big accomplishment,” Gibson said. “I love these seniors. We are very close. We were able to have fun and do stupid stuff like a dance we did before each game. It's going to be hard not playing with them next year.”

Here is the 2014-15 Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Honor Roll, based on area coaches’ recommendations and Eagle Sports Staff selections:ForwardsSarah Armahizer (Knoch) 6-2 freshman, 9.6 ppg.Julia Baxter (Butler) 6-1 senior, averaged 17 ppg., nine rebounds per gameSam Breen (CW North Catholic) 6-1 sophomore, led county with 22.6 ppg., 12 rebounds per gameMary Cassamassa (CW North Catholic) 5-9 freshman, overcame injuries to average 14 ppgErin Danik (Seneca Valley) 6-1 sophomore, 9.6 ppg., 8.3 rebounds per game, sank 12 treysKristina DeMatteis (Moniteau) 5-9 sophomore, averaged 13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.9 steals per gameAlexis Deyarmin (Grove City), 5-10 junior, averaged eight points, six rebounds and one blocked shot per game. Shot 80 percent from the free throw lineBrenna Deyarmin (Grove City) 5-10 junior, averaged 14 points and six rebounds per gameAli Goetz (Mars) 5-11 senior, averaged 14.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per gameSadie Longo (A-C Valley) 5-8 senior, averaged 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per gameStephanie McCall (Moniteau) 5-10 senior, averaged 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per gameAllie Megahan (Knoch) 5-11 junior, all-purpose player who filled numerous rolesShanel Preston (Karns City) 5-7 senior, led county with 48 treys, averaged 4.5 rebounds per gameMarissa Siebka (Slippery Rock) 5-10 junior, averaged 13.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game before season-ending knee injuryJordyn Wyllie (Grove City), 5-11 senior, averaged 13.3 points and five rebounds per game. Shot 70 percent from the foul lineGuardsStephanie Croll (Slippery Rock) 5-5 sophomore, averaged 9.5 points and sank 40 3-pointersAlyssa DiPippa (Butler) 5-5 senior, averaged 10.3 ppg., 5 assists per gameSara Getsy (Mars) 5-9 senior, averaged 13.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, sank 19 treysAbby Goetz (CW North Catholic) 5-7 junior, averaged 12.3 ppg.Alazia Greaves (Moniteau) 5-8 sophomore, sank 31 treys, stellar on defenseAnnie Hegedus (Karns City) 5-8 senior, averaged 6 assists per gameMeghan Hess (Seneca Valley) 5-3 senior, sank 31 treys, averaged 3.7 steals, 3 assists per gameErin Logue (A-C Valley) 5-6 senior, averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 assists and three steals per gameEmily LoPresti (Karns City) 5-6 senior, sank 19 treys, averaged 4.2 steals per gameLexey Shick (Union) 5-4 sophomore, 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals per contestZoe Soilis (Freeport) 5-6 junior, averaged 18.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg, sank 26 treysJenna Whitmer (Slippery Rock) 5-5 sophomore, averaged 15.3 ppg., sank 45 3-pointers