Hillary for President
Future bright for dominant O’Connor junior
by Luke Hanagan

NORTH VALLEY – A basketball season by nature is a grind. Daily practices and two games a week follow a busy preseason. For some teams, the postseason includes region and state tournament play.

With all of that time on the court a requirement, one would think ending a lone, late‑season practice 10 minutes early would be a welcome respite for players and coaches. For great players, however, it is those last 10 minutes that make all the difference.

Sandra Day O’Connor junior forward Hillary Bratlien is one of those players. Recently faced with an early‑ending practice, Bratlien chided teammates and coaches to work those final 10 minutes. In fact, Bratlien regularly puts in extra time and the results are showing on her personal stat sheet and in the team’s overall record.

“She is always staying after practice,” said O’Connor coach Justin McLain. “On average, a half hour after every single practice she is working on shooting or playing 1‑on‑1 or 2‑on‑2 against the coaches.”

The fruit of that labor has born out some eye‑catching, single game and season total numbers for Bratlien. For the regular season, her 316 rebounds placed her second in the state, her 531 points were good enough for sixth state‑wide, and she was in the top 20 with 39 blocked shots.

In one December stretch of three games in three days, Bratlien finished with an astounding 91 points and 67 rebounds. Then in January, Bratlien scored a career high 43 points and pulled down 22 rebounds against Northwest Region‑rival Trevor Browne.

The numbers, while certainly gaudy, come with little flash from Bratlien. Her approach is methodically relentless where seemingly quiet nights can still result in more than 20 points.

“If you were to ask me how many points Hillary has during any game we play, I would never be able to tell you,” McLain said. “She just seems to do a good job of putting the ball in the hole so easily. Seeing the book after that (43‑point) game, I was surprised.”

Bratlien said she pays no attention to numbers during the game and focuses on the task at hand.

“You don’t really notice. You just play,” Bratlien said. “You just go with the game and you don’t really dwell.”

Bratlien has had time to get her game to this level as she has been playing basketball since the second grade. She credits her father as an influence on and off the court and her numbers in the classroom are as impressive as those on the hardwood as she boasts a 4.3 GPA.

Bratlien was voted by her teammates as co‑captain of the team this year, and she has found that added responsibility enjoyable.

“It’s different because I don’t usually score as much as I have this season.” Bratlien said. “It’s more fun because I have a bigger role as a captain.”

The Eagles wrapped up their regular season with a 13‑12 record and an 8‑6 mark in the region. Entering the postseason, McLain said they wouldn’t deviate much from their current style of play. And while they don’t design their game plans around Bratlien, they look to get her involved as much as possible.

“Looking at her numbers, it would seem like we base a lot of stuff from her,” McLain said. “We want to take those high‑percentage shots, and if we have the chance to get the ball down low, we are going to do it every single time. Hillary is very athletic and very talented, and we want her to have the ball in any situation.”

Bratlien will lead the Eagles into the postseason this year to make a run at a title. Next season she will return as a senior to a squad that loses only two players from this season, seniors Avery Fricker and Brittany Crennan.

The present and future look bright for McLain’s Eagles and Bratlien. Just don’t look for practice to end early.