Certain players have the ability to change the entire feel of a game by just having a presence on the court.
They can rise up for the final shot, snag a key rebound or make the extra pass to seal a victory — they do whatever necessary to win.
In almost every statistic across her team’s board, one Brownstown Central girls basketball player stood above the pack — Brooke Ebbing.
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In her senior year, Ebbing emerged as one of the most fearsome players on the hardwood in Jackson County.
Ebbing led the Braves to a perfect 9-0 record in Mid-Southern Conference play, for an outright conference title, as the team finished with a dominating 19-5 record in 2014-15.
‘Knowing it was my last’
This past season, Ebbing amassed 423 points while averaging 18.4 per game on 52 percent shooting from the field. In 2013-14, she tallied 280 points for 15.6 per on 45 percent shooting.
On the court, Ebbing played like every game would be her last.
“The biggest change in my game this year compared to last is that I played knowing it was my last year, knowing that any game could be my last if I were to get hurt,” Ebbing said “I think that since it happened to a teammate of mine I knew that anything like that could happen.”
Ebbing also got it done from the free-throw line shooting 81 percent behind 87 points.
The senior netted 30-plus points four times, at least 20 points in 13 games and in double figures in 20 games.
While she has led her team in scoring the past two years, Ebbing is by no means a ball hog.
Perhaps one of the most underrated facets of Ebbing’s game is her passing.
Averaging 3.2 assists per game, and totaling 73 on the season, Ebbing looked to distribute the ball even when her shots were falling.
“Assists and scoring came by being a team player, by getting the ball to my teammates,” Ebbing said. “Scoring came by doing what my coach wanted and asked me to do. Even though scoring is fun and all, I think I found pride in making a pass to a teammate and them making it and watching everyone, including myself, get excited for them.”
Player of the Year
With all of her accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Ebbing the 2015 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
During her third-grade year, Ebbing started playing basketball, and since the fourth grade she has played travel ball.
In high school, Ebbing played with the likes of Team Southern Indiana and Indiana Flight.
On Monday night, the Braves named Ebbing their leading assists, leading free throw and Most Valuable Player award winner.
In the coming days, Ebbing will likely be named as a finalist for MSC player of the year and to the conference’s first team.
This past fall, Ebbing played volleyball. She plans on also joining the softball team in the spring.
“She’s had a really good career for us,” Braves coach Karla Rieckers said. “What I like about her is she’s a good student athlete, and a three-sport athlete, at Brownstown. She’s had to manage her time wisely to excel in all three sports.”
For Ebbing, no statistic or award could compare to the influence she had for future basketball players.
“My biggest accomplishment playing basketball at BCHS was not really an award or a certain percentage, my biggest accomplishment was knowing that I was a role model to little girls,” Ebbing said. “When they would come up to me, you could tell when they talked to me that they felt that way. Just like I did when I was younger. That’s more of an accomplishment to me than anything else.”
While she’s received offers to play college basketball, Ebbing plans on focusing on her studies after high school.
“I plan on attending IUPUI for my pre-pharmacy, then applying for pharmacy school somewhere close,” Ebbing said. “I do not plan on playing basketball on the school team, but basketball will definitely stay in my life for years to come, whether it’s playing pickup games or just going to a gym and shooting. I can’t just drop it forever.”
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Riley Wischmeier, SR – Brownstown Central
246 total points, 10.3 ppg
93-173, FG 53%
60-82, FT 73%
187 rebounds, 7.8 rpg
28 assists, 1.2 apg
34 steals, 1.4 spg
HBCA All-Star team selection.
Katrina Christian, SO – Crothersville
391 total points, 15.6 ppg
141-333, 42% FG
104-186, 56% FT
238 rebounds, 9.5 rpg
35 assists, 1.4 apg
73 steals, 2.9 spg
Alexis Adair, JR – Crothersville
305 total points, 11.8 ppg
296-114, 37% FG
19-25, 76% FT
80 rebounds, 3.2 rpg
16 assists, .6 apg
37 steals, 1.2 spg
Emilee Pollmann, JR – Seymour
275 points, 11.5 ppg
89-199, 45% FG
77-125, 62% FT
127 rebounds, 5.3 rpg
41 assists, 1.7 apg
51 steals, 2.1 spg
All-Hoosier Hills Conference
Maci Lubker, JR – Seymour
238 total points, 10.3 ppg
84-211, 40% FG
32-54, 59% FT
75 rebounds, 3.3 rpg
22 assists, 1.0 apg
35 steals, 1.5 spg
All-Hoosier Hills Conference Honorable Mention
Kayla Griffin, SO – Seymour
235 total points, 9.8 ppg
87-177, 49% FG
49-68, 72% FT
168 rebounds, 7.0 rpg
38 assists, 1.6 apg
23 steals, 1.0 spg
All-Hoosier Hills Conference Honorable Mention
Maddie Roark, FR – Trinity Lutheran
458 total points, 19.1 ppg
142-334, 43% FG
126-203, 62% FT
60 rebounds, 2.5 rpg
48 assists, 2.0 apg
72 steals, 3.0 spg
IBCA District 3 Subway player of the week, set single game scoring record with 36 pts vs. South Decatur.
Carley McCammon, JR – Medora
260 points, 10.8 ppg
97-340, 29% FG
42-87, 48% FT
122 rebounds, 5.1 rpg
30 assists, 1.3 apg
37 steals, 1.5 spg
Selected to the Indiana Elite North vs South game
Jadelyn Dean, JR – Medora
227 total points, 9.1 ppg
80-248, 32% FG
66-121, 55% FT
168 rebounds, 6.7 rpg
70 assists, 2.8 apg
48 steals, 1.9 spg
Selected to the Indiana Elite North vs South game
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Jaelyn Reynolds, SR – Brownstown Central
Kasandra Rieckers, SR – Brownstown Central
Lacey Hall, FR – Crothersville
Morgan Ritz, JR – Seymour
Mikayla Fee, JR – Seymour
Sydney Stuckwisch, SR – Trinity Lutheran
Hailley Peters, SO – Trinity Lutheran
Avery Carney, JR – Medora
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Brooke Ebbing
Brownstown Central
Senior
423 total points, 18.4 PPG, Season-high 30 pts, 927 career points
157-301 FG, 52%
87-108 FT, 81%
151 rebounds, 6.6 RPG
73 assists, 3.2 APG
48 steals, 2.1 SPG
34 blocks, 1.5 BPG
Mid-Southern Conference (2x) and Toby YoHo Classic (2x) Champion. 2015 Braves awards: leading assists, leading free throw, MVP.
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“My biggest accomplishment playing basketball at BCHS was not really an award or a certain percentage, my biggest accomplishment was knowing that I was a role model to little girls. When they would come up to me, you could tell when they talked to me that they felt that way. Just like I did when I was younger. That’s more of an accomplishment to me than anything else.” Brooke Ebbing
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