Girls basketball: Fox Valley All-Area captain Schilb lights up scoreboard, leads St. Charles East to sectional crown

It did not take long for Brooklyn Schilb to make her presence felt this season.

In three of St. Charles East’s first five girls basketball games, Schilb topped the 30-point mark — scoring 32 points in split decisions against Lane Tech (59-55 win) and state-ranked Waubonsie Valley (82-56 loss), while adding 30 points against a formidable Glenbrook South squad (69-62 win).

“We played some tough teams at the beginning of the season to help us prepare for the postseason run,” said Schilb.

What a postseason it was for the Saints.

Claiming their third straight Class 4A regional title with a homecourt victory over Batavia, the Saints avenged a pair of regular-season losses with a 39-32 sectional semifinal triumph over Lake Park before knocking off top-seeded Glenbard West, 53-28, in the sectional championship.

Held without a field goal and just a pair of free throws in the first half, Schilb scored 30 of her game-high 32 points in the second half against the Hilltoppers.

“I didn’t realize she had scored 30 points in the second half until after the game,” said Saints coach Katie Claussner. “She’s just so special.”

The versatile 6-footer helped lead the Saints to a 22-12 record and supersectional berth.

For her efforts, Schilb has been named captain of the Daily Herald’s 2025-2026 Fox All-Area girls basketball team.

Not bad for a sophomore.

“That’s the greatest part of it,” said Claussner. “She still has so much growth and so much time.”

Schilb’s final season statistics — 21.7 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 1.9 assists, 46% field-goal shooting — only tell a part of the story.

“Brooklyn is a consistent scorer,” said Claussner. “There were only two games where she was held to single digits — against Wheaton Warrenville South and Geneva. That’s an outstanding stat.

“Obviously, we needed her points. It shows how much we rely on her. She’s a huge threat every time she has the ball in her hands.”

As a freshman, Schilb scored 397 points while acclimating herself with high school basketball.

This season, she nearly doubled that number, totaling 738 points in 34 games.

“I think the main difference from last season was her overall comfortability on the floor being the main scorer,” said Claussner. “She didn’t draw as much attention last year.”

Schilb displayed her shooting range, connecting on 45 three-point attempts (30%).

“She has a fantastic outside shot, and she’s very confident in it,” said Claussner. “Her shot is really pretty. And she’s great at getting to the basket.”

Schilb is also great at getting to the free-throw line, where she finished 179 of 223 (80%).

“Those are the little things that come into play in big situations,” she said.

Playing alongside older sister Addie, Brooklyn only knows one speed when she steps onto the floor.

“That’s one thing about the Schilbs — they’re always going 100 miles per hour,” said Claussner.

That made for some interesting practices.

“They always pushed each other,” said the coach. “There were times where they guarded each other at practice, and they didn’t hold back against each other.”

That competitiveness showed on game days as well.

“I want to do anything for my team to win,” said Brooklyn. “Playing with Addie the last two years has been super fun. She helped a lot last year when I was making the transition to high school basketball as a freshman. She’s always there to support me.”

“Brooklyn is very determined,” said Claussner. “She has that same intensity in everything she does. She wants to get a 100% on a test. She wants to win at everything.”

When the Saints faced foul troubles, Schilb accepted the added responsibility as one of the team’s primary ball handlers.

“It shows her athleticism,” said Claussner.

Schilb, who earned co-DuKane Conference Player of the Year honors, will play alongside sophomore teammate Kathlyn Bainbridge on the 16U 3Stripes Basketball team out of Aurora’s M14Hoops April through July.

“I have played travel ball with Kathlyn the past few years,” said Schilb. “It’s nice to know one of your teammates really well.”

Schilb, who topped the 1,000-point mark for her career last month against Lake Park (Addie also reached 1,000 points two weeks later against West Chicago), was selected as a second team All-State Class 4A pick this past weekend by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

“It was a fun season,” she said. “We were a tightly bonded group.”

Schilb also credits her coaches for their diligence.

“Coach Katie is so special,” Schilb said of Claussner, who starred for the Saints from 2011-2015 before playing collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis. “It’s great to share those things with coaches who played there (at STC East).

“Before the season, she told me to prepare for tight situations and don’t let outside forces get to you,” said Schilb.

“Brooklyn has an intensity to her that’s very rare for a high school player, especially someone her age,” said Claussner. “It’s so awesome to watch because she loves the game so much.

“She rallies everyone around her working toward a common goal, and she has an intense desire to win.”

Having already received D1 offers from Illinois State, Murray State, and Drake, to name a few, the sky is the limit for Schilb.

“Her future is extremely bright,” said Claussner. “We will ask even more of her the next couple of years, and her game will continue to grow.

“Teams will try collapsing on her, so if she can pull up from near the volleyball line and make shots, she’ll be a very difficult player to defend.”

“It will be different the next two years,” said Schilb. “I’ll continue practicing on my three-point shot and mid-range game, as well as ballhandling skills. I love the game, and always willing to learn.”