WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — In one sense, the Circleville girls basketball team got back to business as usual Wednesday night.

The Tigers overcame a slow start to defeat host Washington Court House 52-29, getting 21 points from sophomore guard Maddie Blakeman and 12 from senior guard Faith Yancey to improve to 16-0.

In another sense, one the Tigers considered far more important, Wednesday was anything but just one more win.

No matter how much Circleville looked like the fifth-ranked team in Division II, a spot they have held in the Associated Press poll the past three weeks, this was a newly motivated squad. They wanted to dedicate this win to a teammate who wasn’t there, at least physically.

Wednesday marked the Tigers’ return to the court, five days after freshman center Addison Edgington sustained severe injuries in a car crash. The 6-foot-2 Edgington, who was averaging 16 points and seven rebounds, is recovering at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

“She wouldn’t want to us to come out here and be sad and feel guilty about playing,” senior point guard Gabby McConnell said. “It felt good to get back on the court, but it’s so hard with her not being here. Everything we do reminds us of Addison. It’s just hard.”

Edgington watched the game on her mom’s phone.

“Let’s just say her eyes never left my phone and she fought through sleep to watch,” her mother, Megan, wrote to The Dispatch in a text.

As soon as the game was over, even before the teams shook hands, Circleville players ran as a group to the broadcast table at the top of the bleachers and spoke to Addison through the camera.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Megan said Addison remembers part of the crash.

“Monday morning, she asked me if she was in a car wreck and I said yes," Megan said. "She said that she remembers going off in a ditch and then flying in the car. From there on, she doesn’t remember anything. I don’t know if she ever will.”

The driver was cited for failure to control the vehicle, according to the crash report from the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office. The crash remains under investigation.

'She's my hero, that's for sure'

Megan has been by her daughter’s side at Children's Hospital. It’s been “an emotional roller coaster,” she said Wednesday, processing test results and treatment plans while watching the early stages of Addison's recovery.

Megan shared one development Tuesday, posting a video on her X account of Addison standing with the help of two health care workers.

“She’s a pretty strong girl,” Megan said Wednesday. “I’m super proud of her. She’s my hero, that’s for sure.”

Doctors have reported positive developments. A scan of Addison's aorta was normal, for instance. But at the same time, another scan showed an additional “fracture basically on the bottom of her skull to the top of her first (vertebra),” Megan said.

Addison will wear neck and back braces for six weeks before getting rechecked to determine if she continues to wear the braces or needs surgery. In addition to the broken vertebrae, Addison's injuries include a broken jaw. She’s also taking two blood thinners, and doctors will determine next week if they'll have to place a stent in an artery in her neck, her mother said.

“One day at a time, one issue at a time,” Megan said. “They’ve been great here.”

Doctors haven’t said how long Addison will be at Children’s Hospital or how long her recovery may take. Her jaw will be wired shut for four to six weeks, and she has a feeding tube in her nose that “aggravates her,” Megan said.

Once her blood pressure is under control, she will be moved from the intensive care unit to a regular room, according to her mother.

“She’s been able to stand and take baby steps,” Megan said. “She’s been able to have the catheter removed and used the restroom on her own for the first time (Wednesday) morning. She’s drinking some water out of a squeeze bottle. She’s been able to sit in a chair at a 30- or 40-degree angle and watch a little bit of TV at times. She’s making strides.”

'Rise up and play for Addison'

Tears began to flow as the Tigers left the floor after Wednesday's game, although in the locker room, coach Brian Bigam and athletic director Brandon Wright lauded the players for their performance and mental strength.

Bigam wore a gray T-shirt that read “LEFTY” in tribute to Edgington, and had “AE 31” written in black marker on his hands.

“This is my 21st year of coaching and the last five days have been the toughest of my coaching career,” Bigam said, occasionally choking back tears. “I’ve just prayed that I’ve been there for them, that I’m saying the right things, that I’m there to support them. …

“They’re hurting. It’s been emotional. But to be able to rise up and play for Addison and come together … I’m sure it wasn’t easy, and (dealing with this) was different for each one of them.”

Another freshman, 5-9 forward Ally Thornsley, took Addison’s spot in the lineup.

Wednesday night’s crowd raised $944 toward Addison’s medical expenses. While $172 came from 50/50 raffle proceeds, $172 more was donated back by 50/50 winner Mike Humphries of Circleville. Another $500 was donated by Washington Court House’s athletic boosters, and $100 came from its athletic department.

The Circleville Athletic Boosters have been raising money for the family. Donations can be made through Venmo at @Renee-McIlroy (Memo: Addison) or via a check made payable to the Circleville Athletic Boosters.

Perhaps appropriately, Addison’s twin sister Emilea – the oldest by a minute – scored the game’s final point on a free throw with 29.1 seconds left.

“It just made my heart really happy,” said Emilea, who has visited Addison every day since Sunday and FaceTimed with her sister on other occasions just to talk. “She’s a big part of me. We’re a big part of each other. It was a good feeling to finish the game that way.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Circleville girls basketball wins for injured star Addison Edgington