Bradley Central girls' basketball coach Jason Reuter has emphasized to Brooke Copeland that she can be a much more vital option to the team if she can stay out of foul trouble. The issue kept Copeland in and out of games as a freshman, but as the maturation process goes with the sophomore post, so has the overall improvement.
Copeland averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and three blocks as the Bearettes (14-1) traveled down to Orlando and claimed the Rock Holiday Classic championship this past week. Her week earned her not only tournament most valuable player honors, but Times Free Press Best of Preps Player of the Week honors as well.
After what was a standout freshman season, Copeland came back 30 pounds lighter, which improved her mobility and ability to be in the right spot at the right time on defense. That factor alone has played a part in her improved defensive effort, according to Reuter.
"She's improved immensely; as far as any player I've coached as far as understanding how to stay out of foul trouble in one season. She's only been in foul trouble in one game this season," the Bearette coach said. "As the season goes along and the stakes start getting higher, teams will force her more and put more pressure on her defensively. We've taught her that, as a post, to not leave her feet until the player with the ball leaves. That'll put her in a better position."
Reuter has also loosened Copeland's leash as far as her 3-point shooting. The Bradley coach issued a "red light" her freshman season. She has now been upgraded to "yellow light" status, but the 6-foot-1 sophomore isn't quite as trigger happy this season.
"Brooke realized that with [fellow sophomore post] Rebecca Reuter out, that she's the go-to girl," Reuter said. "Last year, it was ironic because one game after I issued the red light, she snuck a 3-pointer up, and I took her out and reminded her she wasn't supposed to be shooting 3s. She promised me she wouldn't shoot another, and I put her back in and she still shot another.
"This year, her job is to get in the post, and our girls will get the ball to her. She also runs the floor well and most girls that match up to her as far as size don't run the court as well as she does. We run an inside-out game, and the girls know that if Brooke is double-teamed, she'll get the ball back to them."