JE Celebrates Dual Milestones: Ava Hildebrant and Nolan Brunelle Achieve 1,000 Career Points
Jordan-Elbridge High School is proud to announce and celebrate the remarkable achievements of not one, but two outstanding student-athletes who have reached the monumental milestone of 1,000 career points each. Senior Ava Hildebrant from the girls' basketball team and Sophomore Nolan Brunelle from the boys' basketball team have etched their names into the annals of JE sports history with their extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion for the game.Hildebrant’s relentless work ethic, combined with her natural talent and leadership on and off the court, has made her a role model for her teammates and peers. Ava's commitment to excellence has been evident in every game she has played, and her dedication to her craft has paid off with her entry into the prestigious 1,000 career point club.
“It’s been a few years since another girl has hit 1,000 points,” said Hildebrant. “The girl that hit it prior was Molly Baker and seeing her at my games really meant a lot, knowing that she was coming out and supporting me. It was a milestone I’ve had since I started varsity in 8th grade. It meant a lot to my team and my family.”
Heading into the game against Syracuse Academy of Science, Hildebrant needed 25 points to reach the 1,000-point threshold. After only scoring eight points through the first three quarters, she said something clicked in the 4th thanks to the help of her team. She started connecting on some baskets and then sensed she was getting close.
“I heard the crowd kind of getting excited and I saw all the signs being passed out. I was like ‘okay, this might actually happen!’”
She would explode for 17 points alone in the 4th quarter to accomplish the major feat. Hildebrandt says she plans on attending college out-of-state and pursuing nursing as a major. She says she would love to play basketball and do nursing at the same time.
On the boys' side, Nolan Brunelle, a talented sophomore with a bright future ahead, has demonstrated remarkable skill, athleticism, and maturity beyond his years on the basketball court. His dedication to honing his craft and his passion for the game have propelled him to this incredible milestone at such a young age.
He amazingly joins Section III’s 1,000-point club some 26 years after his father and coach Ryan Brunelle accomplished the same feat at JE. After averaging over 20 points per game in his freshman season, Nolan said coming into his sophomore year he wasn’t expecting to accomplish the milestone and was focused on getting wins with his teammates.
Brunelle needed only ten more points in the Eagles’ home matchup against Mater Dei Academy. After a sluggish first half, Brunelle got into a rhythm in the 3rd quarter and emphatically earned his spot on the 1,000-point list with a spinning and-1.
“There were a lot of people there and it was awesome to see our community supporting the team and myself,” said Brunelle. “It was just really cool for it to happen that way.”
Although Brunelle said passing his dad on the points list would be a fun goal, he’s right now looking forward to trying to win a lot more games for the time he’s here. The Brunelle name is interwoven deep in the JE boys’ basketball tapestry, as Nolan’s little brother Chase, who is an 8th grader, has already hit 19 threes this season on the varsity squad.
“I’m looking forward to playing with my brother and other teammates coming up. It would be nice to get a lot of wins and win a section championship.”
Please join us in congratulating Ava Hildebrant and Nolan Brunelle on this remarkable milestone. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and achievements exemplify the very best of Jordan-Elbridge Central School District.