Yorkville’s Brooke Spychalski started to do the math after her junior season.
The senior guard figured out, if she managed to average just nine points a game this season, she would become the seventh player to reach 1,000 career points in the program’s 49-year history.
A milestone like that can often sneak up on a player, but not in Spychalski’s case. She knew she needed 16 points for the Foxes in a Jan. 4 nonconference game against T.F. North.
“Before the game, coach (Kim Wensits) told me to just play and it would come naturally,” Spychalski said. “I just wanted to play how I normally play. I was trying to save it for (the next game against) Plainfield North.
“It was a really good moment, and I was proud of myself. Everybody started celebrating.”
Wensits said she may have been even more nervous than Spychalski for the milestone. Those career-defining moments stand out to her, and she wanted to be prepared for the situation.
“I almost messed it up,” Wensits said. “I looked at the wrong No. 11 and started to call a timeout when she was two points away. Luckily, the ref didn’t hear me. I saved the timeout for the right spot.
“I was so nervous coming into it. She was going to get there, but when you’re two points away, every shot has that much more intensity.”
Wensits gives a lot of credit to Spychalski’s twin sister, Madi, for helping Brooke reach this achievement.
While the two play different positions — Brooke as a 5-foot-9 guard and Madi as a 6-1 center — they complement each other. It also helps having a sixth sense on the court with your twin.
“I’ll bet a quarter of her points came off of assists from Madi,” Wensits said. “They’ve played together for so long that they know each other’s nuances. When Madi gets double teams in the post, chances are Brooke will be open.
“In the half court, Madi is going to do what she does, and if they double, she’ll pass out. Brooke knows Madi is going to find her.”
Madi also knows she plays a different role due to her size, but her passing ability has made the connection formidable.
“I would say because I’m more in the paint, it’s more physically draining,” Madi said. “You’re getting pushed around. I feel like if I hold my own, she’s going to find me.”
Brooke Spychalski loves the connection, and Yorkville (11-6) uses that to its advantage.
“I think I look a lot to my teammates,” Brooke said. “I mostly look for Madi because I know how she plays. You don’t see a lot of teams with twins that play different positions.”
Their connection has led to a solid season for the Foxes, who enter the week on a three-game winning streak.
“We’ve been playing much better basketball against good opponents,” Wensits said. “Ultimately, it’s how you do against winning teams.
“We’re starting to hit our stride, which is what you want at this time of the season.”
Reaching 1,000 points and trying to help Yorkville win its first regional championship since 2019 and first sectional title since 1981 was preceded by Spychalski making her college choice.
Before the season, she committed to NCAA Division II Illinois-Springfield, where she plans on majoring in biology. Making that choice didn’t come without its challenges, however.
“I think the whole process since freshman year has been draining and stressful,” Spychalski said. “There’s a lot of pressure to be the top player, but ultimately it happens for a reason.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue my career. It’s still close to home. It was like boulders off my shoulders and I could just play my senior year.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
