Super sophomore
CRANBERRY TWP —Evelyn Brazil didn't have much of a reaction when Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann told her 6-foot-2 sophomore center Sam Breen would guard her in practice.
The 5-foot-1 senior shrugged off the challenge and went to work zipping around Breen toward the basket.
Rottman wanted Breen, who is a scoring and rebounding juggernaut, to get used to moving on defense.
“I mean, at first I didn't really have a reaction,” Brazil said. “I was just like, 'I don't know, Sam's not used to playing a guard.' I didn't think she'd be able to keep up, which she wasn't at first, but she's starting to get better.”
Over the summer, Breen, a Cranberry Township resident, worked on shooting jump shots.
She played in AAU tournaments, spent time in the weight room and did all the things people do to progress as a player.
Of all the challenges she's taken on, this one may be the toughest.
“Guarding Ev when she's taking it up,” said Breen, who averages 21.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. “It's been a little bit of a struggle, but I'm working on it.”
Each girl's skill set made the relationship mutually beneficial.
Brazil had an opportunity to learn how to score around a bigger defender.
A few shots got sent back her way.
Breen swats away an average of 2.2 shots per game.
“I didn't realize how close she was,” said Brazil, who averages 7.1 points and 3.1 steals per game. “For as far as she plays off me, I feel I can get my shot off. I have to remember her arm span is longer than people who normally guard me.”
Rottman wanted to prepare Breen for when the Trojanettes (12-4, 8-1) were matched up with an up-tempo team, like section rival and defending Class A PIAA and WPIAL champions Vincentian Academy. She wants Breen to be able to move with teams that play up-tempo.
“That's something we talked about with Sam,” Rottmann said. “We can't afford to have her in foul trouble. We need her to play. Her defense is improving, she anticipates the ball well.”
Breen's impact on offense has been magnified with her improved range. Her game-plan in the past was to attack the basket and score with layups.
Now, she's shooting 50 percent from behind the 3-point line.
“My shot wasn't bad, I just wasn't a shooter,” Breen said. “Teams haven't realized that I can make that shot yet. When I'm outside, they don't guard me as much, so I'm wide open.”
That's caused major problems for North Catholic's opponents. Against Riverview last Wednesday, Breen scored 32 points and had 24 rebounds.
While she terrorizes opposing defenses in games, Breen is still pursuing her toughest task.
Keeping up with Brazil in practice.
“It's hard, but I'm doing better,” Breen said. “I like it because I would like to get more steals on defense. It's still in the process. I should be faster, but I'm working on it.”
