St. Charles North’s Bronwyn How was feeling a myriad of emotions Tuesday night.
In the aftermath of seeing the season end at the hands of Glenbard West, the 6-foot-3 junior forward offered up some perspective on not just losing the game but having to say goodbye.
“This group especially meant a lot,” How said, thinking about her teammates first and foremost. “I’ve been with these seniors for three years now. Some of them I’ve known a bit longer, too.
“Just seeing them leave and me being the senior next year, that’s kind of crazy. It’s the last go-around, which is kind of crazy. It’s just a mix of everything.”
How will go into the offseason with positive momentum, however. She had a huge game for the North Stars, putting up 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in a 67-60 loss to the Hilltoppers in a Class 4A Bartlett Sectional semifinal.
Lelanie Posada and Riley Barber scored 14 points apiece for St. Charles North (23-8). Sydney Johnson added 12. Sophia Evans led Glenbard West (28-4) with 25 points off the bench.
North Stars coach Grant Oler confirmed this was a positive end to the season for How personally, even though that may be hard to grasp in the meantime.
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“Yes, in 24 or 48 hours, she’ll look back and have those thoughts,” Oler said. “Right now, she loves these girls. She’s brokenhearted for her seniors. Her and Lelanie are going to be a thing.
“They saw how this senior class does it. They take that and build on that, that’s the hope.”
St. Charles North trailed by nine points going into the fourth quarter before Posada hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 45-42. Glenbard West then stretched the lead to 52-42.
A 3-pointer from Barber with 11 second remaining inched the North Stars closer at 63-60.
“We were going to fight for this game, fight for our season,” How said. “We worked so hard. We were prepared for this moment. It’s win or go home.”
In the 9-2 run that got the North Stars within 63-60, How scored the first six points.
“I have to give it to my teammates,” How said. “I can’t do what I do without my team. In practice, games, they work so hard to get me the ball. They’re getting shots up too, so that’s really helpful.
“I trust my teammates. I trusted myself, especially in this game.”
Glenbard West coach Kristi Faulkner praised the performance of How and marveled at St. Charles North’s resolve in the fourth quarter.
‘She did a really nice job,” Faulkner said of How. “With her length and size, she utilized it well and they were effective with that. It was a really good game. They did a really nice job.
“They were really gritty and I was really impressed with their game.”
Although the loss was still fresh, Oler pointed out there’s even more for How to unlock as a senior.
“One of the things that she does that she doesn’t show yet but it’s coming, she can stretch the floor with the three,” Oler said. “She really can. She can really get hot in practice. I beg her.
“She’s so humble about it. She says, ‘There’s better 3-point shooters than me.’ We’re going to need some girls to hit some next year, and we’re looking at Bronwyn How.”
She’s also looking to carry the momentum of her effort Tuesday into the offseason.
“Especially preparing for travel coming up,” How said. “I think using this entire season, not just this game, as motivation. There’s always something you can learn and something you can do better.
”Using that as motivation going into the offseason is going to be way more helpful than sitting there thinking, ‘Why didn’t I make that shot?'”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.