GIRL POWER: WESTVILLE’s BLACKBURN SISTERS OFF THE RIM
BY MICHAEL BRAY
Piper and Brooke Blackburn are the dynamic duo for the Westville Lady Yellow Jackets.
“Together they have that sister bond. They can always find each other and know each other’s next move,” said coach Bobby Eagleton. “Brooke is tough as nails and plays so hard. She does the little things we need to be successful. Piper’s skill is ridiculous and she is fast and really hard to guard. She brings energy and makes our team faster.”
Other than basketball the girls share a love of life.
“We both enjoy hanging out with our friends whenever we get the chance,” said Brooke, a sophomore and the younger of the two. “We also like to hang out with each other, and that involves going out to eat most of the time.”
Piper, a senior, echoed her sister’s thoughts.
“Any opportunity I have to join my sister in a sport we both love is very special,” Piper said. “Brooke is my best friend and having my best friend with me to share in this journey is extremely important. We are able to talk about things on and off the court, which helps make things so much better.”
Both attributed family as part of their perseverance, but Brooke went a little deeper.
“God has given me the ability to play so I strive to do everything for Him, but my grandad was always our biggest supporter,” she said. “Whether it was on the basketball court or the softball field, he wanted to hear how we did and he wanted to give us tips to do better. When he got sick, he said he wanted to see my sister and I on the field and court together one last time. Since his passing, I do my best to make him proud.”
While sharing the floor is a great experience, they both agree that one downside is occasional spats between the two.
“When we disagree, we get very mad at each other and it causes a fight,” Brooke admitted. “ I do wish to work on that this year.” Added Piper as the older sister, “If she messes up, I am extremely hard on her, which isn’t always a good thing.”
But in the end, it’s all about being a good friend.
“It’s great to have someone who is always there for me and pushes me to be great,” Brooke said. “She picks me up every time I get down and she helps me in every way that she can.”
Following graduation in the spring, both desire to attend NSU. Piper for a degree in medical science and a bachelor’s in science with an emphasis on dental hygiene. For Brooke?
“I want to go for either an education degree or a special education degree,” she said. “I want to help and teach little kids. After college I want to start a loving little family. My main goal is to just live life to the fullest until I no longer can.”
Sisters- at the heart of it all that is what it comes down to. Just two sisters who love to play together.
