The outdoor basketball hoop at the Brennan residence has hosted a few pretty fierce games.
Home to Camden Catholic High School sophomore Caroline Brennan and freshman sister Madeleine, it’s a place that has been the backdrop for great shots, learning moments, and a few bumps and bruises.
“We all go out when we practice or play ‘horse’, or ‘1-on-1’ or something like that,” Caroline said. “It’s nice to have so we can compete against each other and push each other to get better.”
Caroline and Madeleine are joined in backyard games by their seventh-grade sister, Siobhan, and their fifth-grade brother, Jack. But the two older sisters have had some battles.
“Sometimes the games get pretty competitive,” Madeleine said. “Caroline goes pretty hard at me and tries to make me better. It’s working.”
The Brennan sisters have emerged as key contributors to rebuilding a Camden Catholic team that experienced a rare sub-.500 season last year (7-20). Since then, the hard practices have certainly paid dividends, as the Brennans have helped the Irish rebound with a 10-7 record this year through Feb. 2. Even better, the sibling rivalry is left behind in the driveway. The Brennans love playing together on the high school court.
“We got to play together a little bit in middle school, but high school is just so much better,” Caroline said. “I love to share something that I love to do with her because I feel like it brings us closer together.”
Caroline, a 6-foot-2 forward, leads the Irish in rebounds, averaging more than eight a game. Madeleine is a 5-foot-10 guard who shows little caution in diving for a loose ball. They are perfect complements to leading scorer Edore Pela, who is a freshman averaging 15 points a game. The future looks awfully bright for the Irish in the next few years.
“We’ve all really grown together as a team, even though we’re young,” Caroline said. “We’re finding our chemistry throughout the season so far. I just love all the girls, and I’m very happy that we have been succeeding recently.”
Some of that easy transition has been passed from sister to sister. “[Caroline] really helped me through it and gave me a lot of pointers,” Madeleine said of moving up to the varsity squad. “She made it very welcoming. … She’s always keeps me motivated and helps me out whenever I need it.”
Madeleine is already paying it forward, relaying those same messages to her younger sister. If everything stays on track, Siobhan will be trying to make the varsity team in two years. All three could potentially play together in Camden Catholic green on the same court.
Normally, that would make things easy in terms of a family rooting interest when Camden Catholic’s rival comes to town. But, the next family gathering at the Brennan household could feature a pretty fierce game.
“My dad went to Camden Catholic, and he was a wrestler,” Caroline said. “My mom’s side of the family is more basketball-oriented, [and] they all went to Paul VI.”
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