Brittany Brunson, Basketball is Her Way of Life
For many high school athletes, there's nothing like coming home from a hard day of classes and practice and either hanging out with some friends or relaxing in front of the television before they have to finish up any homework, get to bed, and start all over the next day.
For Deep Creek senior Brittany Brunson, there's nothing like coming home from a hard day of classes and basketball practice and playing some more basketball. Whether at the school gym after practice, in a recreation center, or on a blacktop with some friends, basketball isn't just an extra curricular activity for Brunson, it's her way of life.
"It keeps me going," Brunson, 17, says. "It gives me a reason to keep my grades up and keep doing well in school."
When she's not spending time in the books keeping those grades up, Brunson can be regularly found on the court trying to get her scoring average up. The 5'8" power forward averaged right around 10 points a game last year for the Deep Creek girls' basketball team that finished an impressive 11-5 in the Southeastern District.
This season, Brunson wants to get that average up around 15 points per game in order to help lead another strong Hornets team into district contention among the likes of Indian River and King's Fork
She knows what it will take to achieve that goal.
"I've got to be more focused when I'm going to the basket," she says, "Instead of just throwing the ball up, I'm going to be looking for the foul; just more focused on putting it in. I want to help my team in any way I can."
Where Brunson has really helped her team over the past few season has been in the rebounding category. She has always brought an astute and analytical mentality along with a bruising box-out to her rebounding approach.
"The rebound starts the whole play on the offensive end," she says, "You get the rebound and start the fast break and get points off the transition."
Brunson hopes to continue playing basketball on the collegiate level next year (with Hampton and Old Dominion showing serious interest) but for the moment, she is centering all of her energy on a district title and state championship run with her Deep Creek teammates.
The Hornets will be under the guidance of a new head coach in 2006, as former Wilson assistant coach, Anthony Edmonds, takes over on the bench. Edmonds will most certainly rely on Brunson, who returns as a team captain, to help maintain stability throughout the squad during this season of transition.
"I bring leadership," Brunson says. "I help keep the girls under control and organized on the court."
And the court, regardless of being indoors or out, is where Brittany Brunson plans to stay.
