On his return to town following his team’s largely successful trip to San Diego for the three-day Surf ‘N Slam basketball tournament earlier this week, Woodcreek coach Burnel Pinkerton shared the news about a knee injury to starting forward Jordan Franks.

In describing the mood of the team and of Franks after the 6-foot-7 senior injured his medial collateral ligament in the first game of the trip, Pinkerton used just one word – “bummed.”

Well coach, I have to admit that my feeling is pretty much the same. I am bummed that we do not get to see this outstanding Woodcreek team at full strength when the Sierra Foothill League schedule tips off Tuesday night.

I am bummed that we do not get to see Franks with his teammates when they roll into Rocklin Tuesday night to take on the titans of the league.

When evaluating the prospects for the 2008-09 SFL basketball season at the end of last season, the Thunder stood out as the clear favorite. The section champs returned three starters and a large portion of their bench for this season, and with Brendan Lane here for one more curtain call before lacing them up at Pauley Pavilion; it appeared to be inevitable that Rocklin would run away with the league.

When the athletes who were arguably the best players at Lincoln and Whitney (Tony Williams and Cody Kale) transferred in during the offseason, the powerhouse became even more formidable, and I have not even mentioned the arrival of a 6-foot-8 exchange student to sweeten the Thunder bench.

Woodcreek has played the preseason schedule like a team that had every possibility of being able to play with Rocklin. Wins, mostly by double-digit margins, in 13 straight games to open the season before dropping the final contest in San Diego is an impressive run for the Timberwolves.

The stage is set for Woodcreek vs. Rocklin I in the league opener Tuesday night, but now we get that premiere matchup without one of its most exceptional participants.

Franks is an outstanding player, both on the perimeter and in the post, and his work on the glass has been a huge key for Woodcreek this year. Clearly he will be missed, and his absence puts a lot of pressure on a very deep and talented roster.

I have every expectation that the Timberwolves will step up, but that does not change the fact, that like Franks and his teammates, I am “bummed” that the much-anticipated contest will be missing one of its key components.

--kurtj@goldcountrymedia.com