NATCHITOCHES— Gary Stewart’s senior season narrative at Northwestern State University was a tale of adversity.

The year began better than he could have ever envisioned on the basketball court. In the second game of the season, Stewart scored a career-high 23 points against Auburn, hitting 5-of-8 3-point shots.

“I honestly felt like I had no worries,” Stewart said. “I wasn’t thinking about missing. I felt like I was back at Vidalia. I was just having fun.”

The former Vidalia star, who helped the Vikings win a state championship in 2010, followed up his 23-point performance with eight points against LSU the next day, and during his encounter with the Tigers, Stewart’s senior season took a turn for the worse. Stewart injured his knee in the contest and was ineffective in the next four games before having knee surgery mid-season.

“It was like the toughest time I’ve had in my life,” Stewart said. “I started off the season even better than I expected, and you know how you can just feel it? I felt like this season was going to be something special, so I wasn’t prepared when I hurt my knee.”

Prayer and persistence helped Stewart get back on the basketball court after missing an entire month of action.

Northwestern State assistant coach Bill Lewit, male trainer Leslie Oglesby and strength and conditioning coach Luke Rogers put Stewart through several functional movements, such as defensive slides, defensive close outs and full-court stop-and-go sprints. After charting his results, the staff felt Stewart could return in January, but Stewart was far from returning to form.

“After Gary was initially cleared to participate at full throttle, he was discouraged because he was not performing up to his normal standards,” Lewit said. “That is when Coach (Mike) McConathy gave us three the directive to amplify his workouts.”

Lewit said Stewart stayed after early morning practices for extra stretching, shooting and conditioning. Stewart would also return later to take extra shots and work on ball handling in the evening.

“Gary demonstrated mental moxie, diligence and resiliency as he progressed toward being his pre-injury productive self,” Lewit said. “Most importantly, he gained confidence and with confidence came success.”

Slowly, Stewart started becoming the player he was before the injury occurred. In the middle of February, Stewart rattled off three consecutive games scoring 10-plus points. Stewart gives much credit to Lewit for his rehabilitation.

“He was the main one that worked me out everyday after practice, trying to get me back to form,” Stewart said. “I really think if it wasn’t for him working me out, I would have never got back to what I was.”

Stewart helped NSU win 12 of its last 15 games of the season, averaging nine points and shooting 57-percent during the Demons’ run.

Following the season, Stewart was named to the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team for the third time with a 3.51 GPA in psychology.

Stewart said once he graduates, he’ll return to Vidalia and work while he pursues a career in professional basketball.

He’s participating at a combine in Texas today, which will be the first of many workouts Stewart expects to attend.