Bojan a rebounding machine for Marist
Wisconsin softball recruit adds 21 more to the 500 career mark
There has been so much reason to celebrate, so much joy of late for Marist senior Emily Bojan.
Before the RedHawks’ boys basketball game on Jan. 4, she and her softball teammates received their 2021 Class 4A state championship rings.
“That was awesome,” she said. “It’s something that every time I go home, I see it on my dresser. It’s something I want to do with this basketball team too.”
Before Monday night’s game against Fenwick, Bojan and five teammates were recognized on senior night.
“This has been one of the best years,” Bojan said. “The team chemistry has been growing throughout the season. I enjoy these girls on the team just like family.”
Moments after, there was one more spotlight.
This one was trained on Bojan alone for recently passing the 500 mark in career rebounds.
“My personal goal coming into the season was to get to 500,” Bojan said. “It feels good to have achieved it.”
Bojan, a Wisconsin softball recruit, took a big step toward 600 during Marist’s 52-49 nonconference loss to Fenwick.
Le’lani Harris scored a gamehigh 23 points for Marist (16-6). Bojan added 10 points and 21 rebounds. That’s not a typo — 21 rebounds. Mary Clare Brusek contributed seven points.
Elise Heneghan led Fenwick (14-8) with 19 points.
Harris brought the RedHawks back from as much as a 15-point deficit. She scored 21 points over the third and fourth quarters, including their last eight points.
Her last basket, a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds remaining, pulled Marist to within 50-49.
“I started the game off really passive,” Harris said. “I was not being aggressive, not looking to score, and we were down at the half.
“I knew that my team needed a spark, needed a push, so I tried to be aggressive and get to the free-throw line. I tried to be what my team needed me to be at the
time.”
After Fenwick hit two free throws to go back up by three, Marist had a chance to tie. Brusek’s 3-point try from nearly half-court hit the rim.
Bojan, a 5-foot-11 forward, is averaging 15 rebounds. On many nights, she hits double figures in points.
“She’s one of the best rebounders we’ve ever had,” Marist coach Mary Pat Connolly said. “She just has a nose for the ball. You just have to have her in the game.”
Call it reckless abandon. She’s not afraid to sprawl for a ball.
During one sequence in the fourth quarter, Bojan flung herself to the floor to get an offensive rebound and shoveled the ball out to Harris.
After Harris missed from three, Bojan was able to get up and grab the rebound yet again.
She then ran downcourt with a gash on her left knee.
“I just like the environment,” Bojan said, laughing. “It’s so intense. I didn’t even feel the pain in my knee until after that play.
“I was like, ‘Oh, gosh, I kind of hurt my knee.’ But I just like the energy. It gets me going.”
When Harris sees Bojan’s energy, she knows what to do.
“I know that when a shot goes up and Emily is next to me ... I just watch her work,” Harris said.
Another night, another impressive job.
“She’s been like that all season,” Connolly said. “She’s a softball player, but she’s also a pretty talented basketball player. She’s a force for us in the middle.
“People don’t guard her because they’re guarding other people, so she’ll get her eight to 10 points a game too. For a girl who has basketball as her second sport, averaging eight points and 15 rebounds per game, that’s not too shabby.”