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Photo: David Russell

Ella Ryan didn’t set out to become Brentwood's career scoring leader. It just worked out that way.

Ryan broke the record on a layup in the first quarter of a 64-33 win over Independence last week.

“Honestly, it never really was one of the main goals for me,” Ryan said. “Going into Brentwood basketball, I really just wanted to win and see where I could take my game and expand upon what I already knew.”

The four-year starter enters Friday’s game against Nolensville with 2,055 points. Princeton’s Amelia Osgood held the old scoring record with 1,958.

Ryan, a 5-foot-9 guard, scores in a variety of ways.

“I feel like that way it just makes me more difficult to guard and contain,” she said. “It keeps me in that unpredictable area.”

Ryan is averaging 23.9 points per game and shooting 82.7% from the free throw line this season.

The senior comes from a basketball family. Her parents met while playing basketball at Division II Northwood in Michigan. Her older sister, Sydney, is a junior forward at Furman, where she averages 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.

“Oh my gosh, she is someone I look up to so much,” Ryan said. “We’re really close as friends and we were really close as teammates when we played together for a year or two (at Brentwood.)”

Ryan has signed with Quinnipiac, a Division I school in Connecticut that is off to a 15-2 start this season. She hopes to be a lawyer someday.

“They cultivate a winning culture there,” Ryan said. “Just to know that I am wanted in that program is really, really cool.”

Ryan has led Brentwood (15-3, 7-0) to first place in District 10-4A, ahead of Page (17-4, 6-1) and Nolensville (17-2, 6-1).

“I think we could do a pretty good run,” Ryan said.

Off the court, she began learning how to play the guitar last year. Her favorite rock band is the Arctic Monkeys.

Ryan tries to practice basketball five to six days a week.

“I try to get up between 400 to 600 shots a day, split between mid-range, free throws and 3s, some standing, some on the move,” Ryan said.

The biggest basket of her career was a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in regulation that sent a region tournament game against Hillsboro into overtime during her sophomore season. She hit three foul shots in overtime as Brentwood rallied from an 18-point deficit for a 51-48 win, avenging three earlier losses to Hillsboro.

Ryan tied a school record with 40 points in a 74-63 win over Franklin on Jan. 9. She also holds school records for single-season points (689), career 3-pointers (275), career rebounds (596) and career steals (309).

“She’s one of those kids who’s blue collar, just works and puts in the time,” Brentwood coach John Wilkins said. “Working on her craft constantly. She’s a gym rat that’s fun to coach.”

Ryan benefits from unselfish teammates who always try to get the ball to her or set screens in the Lady Bruins’ dribble-drive offense.

It’s risky to double-team Ryan because her teammates Olivia Castagna (11 points per game), Paige Morris and Natalie Halstead are also potential scorers.

“There are times we’ll be coming to practice and she’s already in there shooting on the machine,” Castagna said. “Her effort is next level, and I think that’s just what separates her as a player.”

Castagna has seen Ryan score in multiple ways.

“She can pull it from Curry range, she can take it over two people,” Castagna said. “Like, she’s got everything, honestly.”

Ryan is also a good distributor.

“Ella wows me every game,” Castagna said. “Not only is she a good player, she’s a good teammate.”

Containing Ryan is difficult.

“If she wants to get 50, she can get 50,” Centennial coach Marcel Williams said.

Williams coached Ryan her first three years when he was at Brentwood and initially got a glimmer of her potential during her sophomore season.

“Once that year concluded, I was like, she’s probably going to be one of the greats of Brentwood history and Williamson County history as well,” Williams said.

The Bruins will take on Nolensville at home on Friday at 6 p.m.