CRANBERRY TWP — On the court, Sam Breen sometimes makes it look easy.

Whether it’s posting up, making a move and finishing with a layup, or hitting a floating runner, or even burying a 3-pointer, Breen turned in one of the most dominant seasons in Butler County area girls basketball history.

Breen, a 6-foot-2 junior forward for the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic girls basketball team, averaged 26.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but saved her best effort for the state playoffs where she poured in 146 points in five games.

In the PIAA Class A championship win over Lourdes Regional, Breen scored 27 points to go with 13 rebounds and nine assists.

For her effort, Breen was a unanimous choice for the 2015-16 Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Karns City’s duo of senior LeeAnn Gibson and sophomore Emily Hegedus were also considered.

“I appreciate it so much,” Breen said. “I’m super excited about it. It really means a lot to me.”

Breen has evolved into a force for the Trojanettes.

As a freshman, she rarely stepped outside of the paint. Last year as a sophomore, she ventured out farther from the basket as her game began to blossom.

Before her junior year, Breen dropped 20 pounds and became quicker and more agile on her feet. The results were striking: a player who could play anywhere on the floor and who could also be a standout on the defensive end.

Breen, though, isn’t satisfied.

“I know this offseason I need to work on my left hand for sure,” she said. “I need to finish with my left more.”

North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann chuckles when she hears that self-assessment from Breen.

“Her left hand isn’t terrible,” Rottmann said. “It’s pretty good. But that’s Sam. She’s her own worst critic.”

Breen has been garnering a lot of attention from Division I schools.

Breen said there are 10 schools in the mix, but the University of Dayton and the University of Virginia are at the top of her list right now.

“They’re completely different schools,” Breen said. “But I get a good feeling from both.”

More are getting into the mix everyday since her dominating season concluded.

She said she wants to commit before her senior year.

“That will be a huge thing off my shoulders,” she said.

Rottmann has seen the colleges come through her gym door and offers the same comment to each of them about her star player.

“The No. 1 thing I tell them is she has grown so much,” Rottmann said. “She’s put in the work to get better. They’ll never have to worry about her work ethic.

“Where she’s at is not an accident,” Rottmann added. “It’s not all God-given talent. That kid is driven.”