Salem Hills' Macky Treanor could feel the tightness in her back, but she ignored it.

A little pain wouldn't keep her out of the game, she thought.

Her back thought differently.

After jumping for a kill during a late-season game against Orem, Treanor hit the ground and crumbled.

Even then, writhing in a crumpled ball of pain, the last thing she was thinking about was her spasming back.

"I couldn't move at all," Treanor said. "But I thought I could just get some Icy Hot and jump back in the game. I knew my team could go on and win without me, but I didn't want to miss a second of the game."

That's exactly the mindset that made Treanor not only the MVP of her team, but also of Class 4A.

"She has a lot of effect on the team," said her mom and coach, Kathy Treanor. "She carries them, but recognizes that she doesn't shine without them."

But her team couldn't use her hurt.

So Treanor got busy resting. After weeks of exhausting physical therapy, she was ready to join her team on the court at the state tournament.

"It was comforting for them to have her back because she's the rock," said Kathy Treanor.

Her back was sore. She also had a nasty early winter cold.

"I think it may have ached just as much as the day I hurt it," Treanor said. "But I wanted to fight. I wanted to play."

So, cold, aches and all, Treanor led her team all the way to the 4A title game.

And despite the Seahawks' loss to region rival Timpview, Treanor led her team through five intense sets, posting an impressive 37 kills.

"It was just mind over matter," said Kathy Treanor. "She's got a drive about her, and I could see it in her eyes. Even hurting to the point that she should have stopped wouldn't have stopped her that weekend." All-State softball MVPs and teams (pdf) » http://bit.ly/rQ44Fz