By: Rich Fisher
JACKSON The numbers on the scoreboard at the end of a game tell who wins and who loses, but they never tell the whole story.
Stories like courage, and determination.
For instance, at Jackson High Monday night, the scoreboard said the home team had 53 points and visiting South Brunswick had 37 in a first-round girls basketball state tournament game.
What it did not say, was that Viking senior forward Christina Campagnoli played her second straight game with three torn ligaments in her right foot, in an effort to help her team.
"I hurt it against Edison," said Campagnoli, referring to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament game on Feb. 10. "But playing was not a choice."
That’s because it was all about the post-season. Campagnoli played in a second-round GMCT game against South Plainfield, then played again Monday night in the state tournament.
She emerged from the locker room limping and holding a bag of ice for her foot. When asked if it still hurt, Campagnoli replied "It’s excruciating."
But during the game a contest in which the Vikings were at a distinct inside disadvantage Camagnoli and Susie Miller shared team honors with seven rebounds apiece.
"She really toughed it out for us and did a great job," coach Beth Barrio said. "She’s been playing injured for a while. She’s a tough kid. She’s limping away out there, but she played her heart out."
It was the final game of Campagnoli’s career, and she can now rest the foot since she does not play spring sports.
In looking back on her one season as a Viking regular, Campagnoli was proud of her team.
"This was a disappointing ending," she said. "But we definitely exceeded everyone else’s expectations, we had no returning varsity starters, so it was nice to get as far as we did."
And despite the sudden ending, Campagnoli can always take pride in the fact she played with pain and went along for the entire ride.

