WHITEHOUSE, Ohio — Since early this season, Brooke Bender has had her sights set on a school record.
“I knew from the beginning that the record was five,” said Bender. “Early in the season I was trying to get it and I went to coach Jay (Gast) and I was like, ‘I really want to get five,’ because I was at four and I just wanted to tie it. He said to just let it come naturally, so I let that happen, and at the end of the game he was probably my happiest fan.”
In a win over Toledo Christian, Bender missed her first three pointer of the game, but went on to hit the next seven in a row. That shattered the school record for long balls in one game.
“You hit the first few and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I got this,’” said Bender. “Then you keep hitting more and it’s just amazing. When you keep shooting, you don’t hear anything, you’re in the zone I guess.”
Bender is part of the duo with her sister that has become well known across the area. The Bender twins have been dominating opponents and catching the eye of college coaches everywhere. It’s a spotlight she doesn’t mind sharing with her sister Elise.
“I like it, everybody knows me as the Bender twin,” said Bender. “It’s cool because it’s something different and we always just do things together. I mean, I don’t know if I could play without her.”
A year ago, Anthony Wayne made it to the state final four for the first time in school history. They’re hoping this year is even better.
“I think the JV players that came up to varsity this year saw how good we did last year and they just wanted to build on it,” said Bender. “There are high expectations for this year for us to get back.”
Next up, the Generals get ready for the state tournament and they’re hopeful for that return trip to UD Arena.
Brooke Bender is our Dave's Running Athlete of the Week.