On Friday, January 6th, Brooke Bisping will be honored by Morton High School and the Morton Lady Potter program in between the JV and Varsity games (approximately 6:45pm).  This will be a special event for a very special person.  I doubt that any words can fully describe the impact that Brooke Bisping has had on the Lady Potter program since she first appeared in a Morton Potter basketball uniform back in 2005.  Known for her legendary work ethic and unrivalled skill on the court, as fierce a competitor and consummate teammate, Brooke has inspired Morton players from the Class of 2009 to the Class of 2020 and counting.  She has set the golden standard that every player since she graduated has strived to achieve.

Brooke’s list of individual awards, records and honors is amazing to read through and we will attempt to revisit most of them here, but I believe Brooke’s most significant gift to the Morton Lady Potter program is how much she has given back to the players and teams that followed her.  In recent years the Lady Potter program has reached the pinnacle of success and has featured many great players, but I would venture to bet that every one of those Lady Potters hold Brooke Bisping in the highest regard.  Many of the current Lady Potters, most who didn’t even get to see Brooke play at Morton, have heard the stories, since they first picked up a basketball, about the Legendary Brooke Bisping.  The player that would become Morton’s all-time leading scorer (2,147).  The player, that in practice would win every competition, but refuse to let her teammates run without her.  The player that refused to give an inch, even at 5′-7″, becoming one of Morton’s all-time career leading rebounders (768) and in her senior year had 21 rebounds in a game and 20 in another.   The player that was the free throw machine once going 16-16 and made 234 in her senior season (.857%).  That is legendary and it has inspired an entire generation of Lady Potters to reach for lofty goals.

As I mentioned above, Brooke’s list of individual accomplishments is long indeed.  The following is a highlight list of some of those accomplishments while at Morton High School (some records have since been broken):

Two-time Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year, she was a two-time all-state selection by the Associated Press … Holds the state record for consecutive free throws (53) and shot a school-record 85.7 percent from the line … Morton’s all-time leading scorer with 2,147 career points … Holds school record for most three-pointers (185) and second in school history in both rebounds (768) and steals (233) … Named South MVP at the IBCA All-Star game … Helped her team to the Mid-Illini Conference championship in 2008-09 … Averaged 23.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game as a senior … Set school-season records for points (716) and rebounds (337) … shot 85.7 percent from the free throw line as a senior (234-for-273) … Had 41 points and 20 rebounds at Canton … Also named First-Team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association … Helped the Potters to the Class 3A sectional finals as a junior … Led Morton in scoring at 21.1 points per game in 2007-08 … Topped 30 points on four occasions as a junior, while averaging 6.1 boards per contest … Took home all-state honors from the Chicago Sun-Time and Champaign News-Gazette as a junior … As a sophomore, her team finished fourth in the IHSA AA state tournament … Averaged 14.3 points per game, while earning all-area honors … Scored 13.3 points per game as a freshman … Also lettered in soccer two years, where she was a Peoria Journal Star all-area selection and first-team all-conference pick at goal keeper … Played setter on the Potters’ volleyball team and earned special mention all-state honors, while helping the Potters to an Elite Eight appearance as a sophomore … Earned two letters in track. (Resource – www.bradleybraves.com)

I had the opportunity to speak with Brooke about her time as a Morton Lady Potter, both as a player and a coach, and wanted to share her thoughts with you.  I think you will get some insight into how great a person Brooke is and why she has been so important to the Lady Potter program…

Question: ‘Brooke, back in 2005 you stepped onto the floor for the first time in a Morton Potter uniform.  Do you remember that experience and what it was like?’

Brooke: “I remember that I was NERVOUS.  I felt like I was ready for the experience, because I had prepared quite a bit for it and my Dad had prepared me well, but I was nervous. I remember Coach Becker asking if I wanted to start the JV game as well and I said no, I was too competitive for that.”

Question: ‘Thinking back to the time you played at Morton, what were the most memorable times for you?’

Brooke: “Going to State!  That was just incredible and getting to do that with such a great group of teammates.  I remember most the fun things that we did, the ‘Shananigans’, like TP-ing Coach Becker’s house and goofing around in the locker room.  The fun times at practices.  I remember that much more than any single game.  That is what made the most memories for me.”

Question: ‘Brooke, you have all these kids that you have inspired over the years, was there anyone that inspired you as you were coming up and playing at Morton?’

Brooke: “My teammates probably inspired me the most.  I played with some really great players when I was there.  Of course Tracy Pontius was unbelievable.  She could have had every record in the book if she wanted, but she was more concerned with winning.  She definitely inspired all of us.  We could not have achieved what we did without all of my teammates.  Any record I have or had I owe to them.”

Question: ‘You hold so many records at Morton and achieved so much individual success.  How much value do you put on all of that and does it mean a lot to you?’

Brooke: “Quite frankly, I never paid much attention at all to any records.  I didn’t even realize what my numbers were until people started pointing them out to me once my playing days at Morton were over.  Records are nice, but records are only there to be broken and I wouldn’t trade my experiences with the people, my family at Morton for any records.  Those experiences I had far outweigh any records or achievements.”

Question: ‘Now that you have moved from being a player to being a coach, can you tell me what you like most about coaching?’

Brooke: “I just love being around this amazing group of girls.  They are so coachable and such a fun group that is committed to winning.  Brandi is my little sister, but they are all like my little sisters.  It’s just really fun.”

Question:  ‘What do you think the future holds for you here with the Lady Potter program?  Will you stick around once Brandi graduates?’

Brooke: “It’s funny you ask that, because the other coaches asked me that the other day.  Yes, I hope to coach here as long as they will have me and plan to coach at Morton as long as my career path allows it.”

Please come out to the PotterDome (Morton High School Gymnasium) on Friday night to help us all honor Brooke Bisping.  One of the very best that has ever laced them up for the Morton Lady Potters!!!