Aaron Bruening has found his job to be a whole lot easier the past two years.
That’s because after switching to become William Chrisman’s girls basketball coach in 2005, Bree Kisner is now on his side.
“She’s one of those kids that coaching against her... you just hate playing against her,” Bruening said. “She’s physical. She’s one of those kids that other kids don’t like to play against because she’s physical. She’s always wanting to beat you. She just has a refuse-to-lose like attitude.
“Obviously, now coaching her, that’s a big plus for our team.”
Next year, that advantage will go to Emporia State coach Brandon Schneider and the Lady Hornet basketball team.
Kisner orally committed to ESU earlier this month, making her the third player to do so for the 2007-08 season.
Because of NCAA rules, Schneider and the coaching staff cannot comment until she signs with the school.
The 5-foot-9 Kisner averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season for Chrisman High in Independence, Mo. Perhaps more importantly, though, the guard gained the reputation of being a winner and also a competitor.
“I’d say that’s right,” Kisner said. “I hate losing, and basically just if you’re in my way, and I want something, you’d better watch out because I’m coming through.”
Kisner also received interest from Missouri, Tulsa, Wichita State and Washburn.
Her draw to Emporia State was two-fold. For one, the school fits in perfectly with her future plans — she hopes to major in secondary education and help special education students once she graduates.
The other factor centers on the basketball coaching staff. In Schneider, she saw a coach whose intensity and desire to win were the same as her own.
“He’s not the kind of coach who will just lay back and let things happen,” Kisner said. “He’s the kind of coach that likes to get hands-on with his players and show them things in practice. He’s not afraid to yell at you. Then again, he’s not going to patronize you either.”
Bruening said Kisner had already established herself as a great shooter.
He learned it from experience.
While coaching at Lee’s Summit North, Bruening watched as Kisner drained seven 3-pointers as a sophomore against his team.
The coach said Kisner reminded him a lot of another player he went against at North — former Lady Hornet Andi McAlexander, who played at Liberty High School. She earned second-team All-MIAA honors for ESU last year, averaging 13 points per game.
“She and Bree never got to play together,” Bruening said, “but I think they play very similar.”
Kisner believes she will fit right in once she arrives on campus.
It should especially be an easy transition on offense, as she is accustomed to the same style that ESU plays.
“I play a really fast-paced, up-tempo game,” Kisner said. “I’m really aggressive. I’m all over, I guess you could say.”
It sure seemed like that for Bruening when he coached against her.
Though he doesn’t envy other MIAA teams, he does believe that Schneider will be happy to have Kisner on his side.
Just as he is.
“I really think the people in Emporia will be happy she’s coming,” Bruening said. “I think she’s going to be a good player for the next few years.”