Bonekovic scores 16 as Brookfield rolls

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BRACEVILLE -- Ronda Bonekovic flew home early from a business trip in Arizona in hopes of seeing her daughter Morgan score her 1,000th career point as a member of the Brookfield High girls basketball team.
Bonekovic arrived just prior to the tipoff of Thursday's Brookfield-LaBrae varsity game after driving from the Pittsburgh airport in a snowstorm.
"I didn't want to miss this for anything," Bonekovic said midway through the contest.
The proud mom saw a terrific effort by her daughter come up five-points short as Morgan scored 16 points in a 49-21 victory by the Warriors over LaBrae.
The Warriors (14-1, 9-0) remain undefeated in Trumbull Athletic Conference play and the junior forward will have to wait until Monday to earn the milestone mark when Brookfield travels to Lakeview.
"I'm a little disappointed," Bonekovic said. "It would have been nice to get it tonight but we got the victory and that is more important.
"I have a lot more games to play and hopefully I'll have a big game against Lakeview."
Had 11 in first half
Bonekovic scored 11 points in the first half as the Warriors easily took control of the game against a LaBrae team that has been hampered by injuries.
Bonekovic scored six points in the first quarter and five more in the second as the Warriors opened up 28-6 lead.
Bonekovic then added five more points in the third quarter as the Warriors pushed the lead to 45-9.
At the start of the fourth quarter Bonekovic was on the bench with the rest of the starters for Brookfield.
"I told Morgan I would give her about a minute during the fourth quarter to try for the five points," said Brookfield coach Shawn Hammond.
Bonekovic didn't even attempt a shot in less than a minute of play.
"It was obvious quick that they were going to double team her," Hammond said.
"So it wasn't worth it to keep Morgan in there.
"It's going to happen and I think it'll be a great weight lifted off her shoulders.
"She'll probably go on to eventually break the school record."
That record, according to Hammond, is held by Sue Dobash.
Wolford lauds Warriors
LaBrae coach John Wolford was impressed by the Warriors and said Bonekovic might be the best player in the TAC.
"She's right up there," Wolford said. "You know you have to defend her when you play Brookfield. She commands your attention."
Bonekovic is effective because she plays big and strong around the basket and yet can hit the 3-point shot.
"She has the softest hands," Hammond said.
"She can get the basketball on a pass or off the boards and she knows what to do with it."
The Warriors have several other players that also know what to do with a basketball and they were equally impressive in the easy win.
Kelly Jones scored 15 points and Kodi Brenner added nine points. Bonekovic also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Bayle Boggs and Peggy Nichols each scored six points for the Vikings.