By: Jordan Frantz

Libby Bunsold’s name has been circulating throughout the community. Whether the talk is about her defense, speed, ability to commit theft every time the opponent is near, or the high intensity she brings to the court, it is no surprise the freshman has gained attention. 

Attention isn’t something new to Bunsold. She has been performing at a high level since Wee Eagles.

“My first impression of Libby goes way back to her youth camp days when she was in those early grades,” varsity head coach Jason Tincher said. “It was easy to see there was something special in Libby.  Her love of the game and her competitiveness was evident early on in her development.”

While Bunsold was able to showcase her skills at a young age to coach Tincher, those skills only increased over the years. 

In middle school, she helped her team win the eighth grade SWBL title. 

 “It was her middle school years where I saw her make greater strides in her game,” Tincher said. “I remember saying to my assistant coaches that she would start for us right then as an 8th grader.”

Bunsold transitioned those skills and her winning mentality to the high school court, where she is the starting point guard. 

“Starting varsity as a freshman has definitely been an incredible experience, which I am beyond grateful for,” Bunsold said. “My teammates and coaches have been so supportive, and I have learned so much from them. This is definitely a moment I will never forget!” 

Bunsold isn’t only a starter for the Eagles, but a record breaker. She has currently taken hold of two school records. 

“The one record she has been able to break is our single season steals record,” Tincher said. “It was 110 and she is already over 128 with four regular season games still to play. We instituted a different defensive strategy this season which in a lot of ways was meant for Libby’s strengths.  Playing more full court trapping defenses has afforded her more opportunities for steals and she has taken full advantage of it.”

The other school record Bunsold broke was not only a school record but almost a state record. Busnold had 18 steals on December 18, against Valley View. The record for the most steals in a single game in the state of Ohio is 19. 

“Honestly, I didn’t even realize that I was close to breaking the record while in that game,” Bunsold said. “Sure, I thought I had a decent amount of steals, but not THAT many. So when I found out I broke the record I was really excited, but I definitely have to give credit to the way our team pressures people. I mean the pressure we apply to other teams full court is insane. I just like to play the game of basketball, and if a record happens to be broken, that just makes the season that much sweeter.”

“Libby is on pace to break 1,000 points for her career if she continues on this path,” Tincher said. “Career steals record is in play. Career rebounds and assists could also be a possibility. She is just an all-around great player who wants to continue to improve her game.”

Bunsold’s quick hands make her an asset on the defensive end of the game, but she brings more than just steals. Bunsold averages 11.7 points, 7.1 steals, 5.5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. 

 “The strengths I noticed in Libby were her physical strength and basketball IQ, her ability to see the court and distribute the ball to open teammates, her competitiveness both on offense and defense,” Tincher said. 

Bunsold’s game is likely to continue to thrive as she puts in time for the Sports City Angels AAU team that competes in The Nike EYBL circuit, considered one of the top youth basketball programs in the country. 

The future of the Bellbrook Women’s Basketball program is in good hands, with the ball in Bunsold’s possession. 

 “With solid players around her all four years, this program has an opportunity to take even farther steps toward a State Title down the road for Bellbrook Girls’ Basketball,” Tincher said. 

“I hope to win a state championship for our program,” Bunsold said. “I remembered watching the 2018 girls basketball team, and kept thinking to myself how awesome that would be. That has never been done by a basketball team at Bellbrook, which is what makes me want it even more. I just hope that kids who come up through this program know how amazing it is to be a Bellbrook Golden Eagle.”