There’s no arguing that a 52-point performance isn’t incredible. You don’t have to be a diehard sports fan to know that. It’s also pretty obvious that 28 rebounds is absurdly impressive too.
Just how impressive that rebound total is though, required a look at the VHSL record book.
As just a freshman, Sam Brunelle pulled down 28 rebounds (initially thought to be 27, but after tape review by William Monroe coach Jess Stafford, it was revealed to be 28) against Rappahanock on January 28 while also scoring 52 points.
Those 28 rebounds appear to be a state-wide VHSL record based on the current edition of the record book, with Brunelle overtaking Northumberland’s Kaitlyn Rochelle’s 2012 mark of 27 boards set in a state tournament game in 2012.
“It is very exciting,” Brunelle said. “As a freshman you don’t think you’ll break a record like that that early. But all credit goes to my teammates, they were the ones who helped me get it.”
Rochelle went on to play at UVa-Wise after averaging 16 rebounds per game in high school.
Local records aren’t totally conclusive with regards to single game numbers, but we do know that St. Anne’s-Belfield standout Sarah Imovbioh, currently playing for South Carolina after three years at UVa, pulled down 33 boards once against Cape Henry and another 30 against Liberty Christian back in 2011. Also, just a few days after Brunelle’s mark, Covenant junior Emily Maupin posted 26 rebounds against Virginia Episcopal, a career high for Maupin, coming up just two short of Brunelle’s public school record-setting tally.
Brunelle has worked tirelessly on her rebounding positioning and it has helped her become second in the area in rebounding at 17.5 boards per game, just behind Maupin, the area leader at 21.4 rpg.
“My coach had me in the weight room a lot working on lower body strength,” Brunelle said. “The box out, obviously, that’s what we really needed and once you execute the boxout you just go get the boards.”
Brunelle’s 52 points has her just outside the VHSL’s top 10 all-time in single game scoring, with the record set back in 1982 by I.C. Norcom’s Karen Drewry when she scored 68 points in one game.
