In four years of a legacy-making career at Anthony Wayne, Elise Bender was driven by family and focus.

Bender burst onto the scene as a freshman playing a key role on a Generals team that advanced to the Division I state tournament semifinals for the first time in program history.

Bender, a 6-foot-1 senior wing, averaged 24.1 points this season and guided the Generals to a berth in the Division II state championship game.

Before taking her talents to Villanova University, Bender left a lasting mark at AW. She holds 12 school records, including for most points in a career (2,066) and season (639) as well as points in a game (36). Bender's final average of 20.1 points per game also is a school record.

STEVE JUNGA

2025 All-Blade boys basketball player of the year: Makhi Leach, Whitmer

Bender is The Blade’s 2025 girls player of the year. It is the second consecutive season the AW stalwart has earned the top honor.

Elise said she owes a tremendous debt to her parents Jeff and Jen and her extended family.

“I do love the sport and that drives me. But I also like playing for the people I love, playing for my parents, for my team, for my coaches,” Bender said. “All the dedication and time and effort they've put into me, I just love going out there and playing for them.”

Anthony Wayne coach Jami Carter called Bender a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

“Her commitment to be the best and never content has established the baseline for all our players who come after her,” Carter said. “She is a threat and can score at any level, in any way, from any spot on the floor. Her footwork before and after she gets the ball is second to none. What often goes unrecognized is her court vision and her ability to see the floor and distribute the ball.”

Bender also was named Ohio's Division II player of the year.

This is the fourth consecutive year Bender has earned All-Ohio honors. She earned all-state third-team honors as a freshman and sophomore. Last season, she also was named to the All-Ohio first team.

One constant over those four years has been the presence of Elise's twin sister Brooke. The siblings led Anthony Wayne to two final-four appearances. The Generals fell 70-55 to unbeaten Cincinnati Winton Woods in the D- II title game on March 15.

“It's been amazing. I never really played any sport without Brooke,” Elise said. “Being connected throughout our childhood and into high school and sharing all of this is just amazing.”

Elise and Brooke Bender both have committed to Villanova University. Brooke Bender, who averaged 16.5 points per game, earned All-Ohio second-team honors.

“We're a bit of a big extended family, so they all love to come watch us,” Elise said. “And so just being connected with a sport that everyone loves is just amazing for my family, and that makes it even more enjoyable for me.”

The Benders' mother also is an AW graduate. Brother Hayden Bender, a 2024 AW grad, also played basketball for the Generals.

“Elise and Brooke are special people, and so is their family,” Carter said. “They all bleed blue.”

Bender finished second in the voting for the 2025 Ohio Ms. Basketball award behind Cincinnati Purcell Marian senior Dee Alexander. It was the second straight season Bender was a Ms. Basketball finalist.

The Generals also reached the Division I state semifinals at the end of the 2021-22 season and won three district titles.

“I want to succeed. I like having a goal and wanting to reach it,” Elise said. “The goal was to get to the state championship and win. Just having that goal and having the drive every single day, knowing the work I have to put in to get to that goal made it exciting. I like the journey as much as I like the finish.”

In four years with Elise as a starter, Anthony Wayne posted a 90-16 record with a 41-3 mark in the Northern Lakes League.

Northview coach Pat Sayre, whose team faced Bender several times over the last four years, said she is the ultimate competitor.

“Combine that with her skill set and IQ, she was a nightmare matchup,” Sayre said. “She could beat you on the interior and beat you from 3. And when you do everything 'right' she will still go dominate the glass and get to the free throw line. We're definitely excited to cheer her on at the next level … while not having to face her again.”

As a junior Bender averaged 22.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, and earned All-Ohio first-team honors. She also was named the NLL Buckeye Division and district player of the year for the second consecutive year. This season Bender also averaged 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.8 steals for the Generals (24-3).

Clay coach Chris Pope, whose team fell to AW in the district final, said Bender's leadership on and off the court stood out.

“She's very much deserving of every award and accolade she has received,” Pope said. “Her work ethic [is special]. She didn’t become the player she is without dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and tons of hours in the gym.”

Bender said she prides herself on being versatile.

“Whatever my coach needs from me, I can go out there and do it,” she said. “If that's in the inside, or if it's from the 3-point line, I want to be able to do a little bit of everything.”

Bender also holds school records for the most two-point field goals in a career (630) and season (209) as well as career free throws (425) and free throw percentage (77.8).

“You're fortunate when your most skilled player is also the most committed,” Carter said. “Elise was always wanting to learn more and work to expand her complete game. When presented with a new move or technique, she worked tirelessly to perfect it. She is uniquely driven to succeed.”

Her school career records also include steals (299) and blocks (143). She also holds AW records for blocks in a season (47).

“Some of her strongest attributes, like her constant movement without the ball, her footwork, and ability to read defenders, make her a perfect match for our offensive principles,” Carter said. “She was very much a coach on the floor and in the locker room.”

Bender said her game also grew in intensity. “I hate to lose more than I love to win,” she said.

Bender is the sixth player to win The Blade's top honor twice following Ericka Haney (Central Catholic, 1997 and 1998), Shareese Ulis (Waite, 2006 and 2007), Natasha Howard (Waite, 2008 and 2010), Zia Cooke (Rogers, 2018 and 2019), and Grace VanSlooten (Notre Dame, 2020 and 2021).

“That's kind of a Mount Rushmore of women's high school basketball for the Toledo area,” Carter said. “The success and careers of each of those players are well documented and Elise certainly has earned her way into the conversation with them.”

Bender added: “It's amazing just to be in the same conversation as them. They're great athletes and great basketball players, and they have amazing reputations.”

Bender chose Villanova over 10 other Division I college scholarship offers.

“I fully expect her to have a monster career at Villanova,” Carter said. “I expect it will be a seamless transition for her on the court as they play in a lot of ways very similar to how we have played for four years and she has shown that style fits her skills.”

Elise said her high school career flew by.

“It feels like I was a freshman a couple days ago,” she said. “Brooke and I wanted to end our last year at the biggest stage. Obviously we didn't win at the end. It was just so bittersweet. But I'm just extremely proud of everyone involved. It's really been an amazing four years in the program, and I wouldn't have changed anything at all.”

First Published April 3, 2025, 1:12 p.m.