Garnet Valley’s Borcky hopes lessons at home keep paying off
Author’s Note: This article was originally published in the Friday. March 10 edition of the Delaware County Daily Times. Some aspects of the story have been updated.
When it comes to basketball, Garnet Valley sophomore Brianne Borcky has learned a thing or two from her mother,
Annemarie Borcky (née Baeurle) was a standout basketball player at Caravel Academy in the mid-1980s. She was USA Today All-American honorable mention in her senior year, when she averaged close to 32 points per game. She went on to play college hoops at Cabrini.
“She always tells me that I am different than her,” Brianne said in a January interview, long before the Jaguars punched their ticket to the PIAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year. “She was always a down-low player. She could shoot, but not like 3-pointers or anything. She could dribble a little, but mainly she liked to post up, box up and get rebounds and stuff.”
Brianne Borcky is a multifaceted threat and one of the most athletically gifted players in Delaware County. Borcky, a 6-0 forward, recently garnered First Team All-Central League honors. Borcky and fellow soph Emily McAteer have been a dynamic duo for coach Joe Woods and the Jaguars (22-5), defeated District 2 champion Scranton (18-5) in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs last Friday. GV continues its march in the state tournament this week when it plays District 1’s Boyertown.
Annemarie is one of three girls basketball players in Delaware state history to score 50 or more points in a contest. The others? The WNBA’s Betnijah Laney, who twice scored 52 points in 2009 for Smyrna High, and the great Elena Delle Donne, who had 50- and 51-point games during her remarkable career at Ursuline.
“She reminds me of it,” Borcky said, laughing.
While they may not be the spitting image of each other on the court, Borcky heeds mom’s advice.
“She has said to me, ‘If you get your own rebounds, you’re going to make your own magic.’” Borcky said.
In February, Borcky honored her mom at midcourt prior to a game against Conestoga. The Jags hosted a “pink out” in support of Unite for HER and breast cancer awareness.
Annemarie defeated the disease when her daughter was in the eighth grade.
“I remember, it was during the summer. She didn’t have to do radiation or anything, so that was good,” Brianne said. “She battled through it. She is tough.”
Borcky, who is receiving Division I interest, continues to make her mom proud. Maybe someday she can brag that she was the better player.
The Jags, who lost their last three district games, were able to turn the page on their recent struggles with a tremendous performance in the first round of states. Borcky was excellent with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Top photo: Garnet Valley sophomore Brianne Borcky leans on her mom, Annmarie, for inspiration on and off the court. Mrs. Borcky was a USA Today All-American honorable mention during her high school days at Caravel (Del.). (Photo by Pete Bannan — Digital First Media)
