Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks returned to the basketball court and helped the USA Basketball U18 Women's National Team win the gold medal of the FIBA Americas tournament in Chile.
The Americans beat up Canada 109-62 in Sunday's championship game.
Hebard, of West Valley High fame, came off the bench to play 13 minutes, 25 seconds and earn her first medal from international competition.
She had missed the team's previous two games, including a semifinal win over Puerto Rico, after getting hit in the head during the second game of pool play.
The 6-foot-4 forward is the first Alaskan to play for the U18 women's national team.
Hebard scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.
She averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds in three games.
Up next for the Alaska player of the year is the University of Oregon, where she will begin her freshman year this fall.