Sophomore forward Bronwyn How has learned how to deal with pressure for St. Charles North.
How’s reputation actually preceded her first season as a major varsity contributor. After a successful summer playing for the Lady Lightning, she picked up an offer from Eastern Illinois.
That was before even really getting started on the varsity for the North Stars. So the pressure?
“At the beginning of the season, I had to get into understanding that,” How said. “Now that I understand that, I think it’s a lot easier to compose my thoughts going into a game.
“I think it’s just the mental aspect of it.”
St. Charles North coach Mike Tomczak and How’s teammates have tried their best to keep her away from any external distractions as well.
“She has to deal with a lot right now,” Tomczak said. “External noise, outside people. Inside, we’re a family. We don’t talk about that stuff. But outside, it’s only human to start taking that stuff in.
“We try to wrap her up as much as we can and insulate her from that. When she’s here, she’s here, but that’s a lot to handle for a sophomore. I credit her to handle it with such grace.”
How has made an immediate impact for St. Charles North (11-2, 2-2), leading with 15 blocked shots and ranking second with 48 rebounds She’s the third-leading scorer at 6.5 points a game.
For How, who also has added 20 steals and 18 assists, those are relatively modest numbers so far. But she has also drawn the attention of opposing defenses right away.
“She does command a double team,” Tomczak said of How. “She posts up with purpose. She makes people commit to her.
“On a night you’re going to single her, she’ll go to work inside. On a night where you send two, which is most of the time, she is starting to make the right read and work on that inside-out game.”
How knows that the attention given to her can only help her team.
“I think it’s good for our team because when I get it inside, I know I can get it outside,” she said. “When they collapse on me, the inside-out three is always there, and I trust my teammates to make that every time.”
St. Charles East (9-2, 4-0) sent frequent double teams How’s way Friday until Sydney Johnson started raining 3-pointers to keep the North Stars in a game that the Saints eventually won.
“She loves the pick-and-rolls,” St. Charles East coach Katie Claussner said. “We were trying to, as much as possible, clog the middle until (Johnson) came out and knocked down four threes.
“We wanted to make sure that we were not switching on screens, ensuring that she doesn’t get a roll to the basket. Then we hyperfocused on making sure our help defense was there.”
Tomczak knows there will be nights like a 31-16 win over Barrington, when How scored 12 points off the bench. There also will be nights like Friday, when she was limited to four vs. the Saints.
“She’s still a sophomore,” Tomczak said of How. “She’s still learning. She’s still getting her legs under her. Some nights look amazing and some nights there is room for growth.
“She’s a big part of what we do.”
Whatever the results are on the court, Tomczak is just impressed with how mature How has been.
“She’s the best teammate we have,” Tomczak said. “She’s positive. She wants her teammates to succeed even more than she does. That says a ton about her character.”
How confirmed that she was ready for the challenge coming into the season, and her early success underscores that belief.
“This is my first serious varsity minutes,” How said. “After coming off my summer season with my AAU team, I was preparing all summer for this.
“It’s all good competition, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
