WHS junior Mairin Fowler has had a remarkable season thus far, with one lens focusing on her performance against Union Catholic. On Feb. 18, the Blue Devils defeated Union Catholic 61-56, propelling them to the Union County Tournament final. This win was driven by Fowler’s achievement of tying the school girls basketball record for most 3 pointers made in a game, with seven.
While Fowler is proud of this accomplishment, she believes that more goes into the moment. “It’s less about breaking the record and more about just keeping my team in the game,” said Fowler. “It was a time when we needed points badly, we had people in foul trouble and I wanted to step up for our team. I wanted to keep playing for our success.”
Fowler’s success against Union Catholic was not simply a hot shooting night, it was the product of preparation and confidence built over the course of the season. She emphasized that her record-tying game reflected the team’s unity just as much as her individual efforts.
Head coach Liz McKeon has witnessed Fowler’s growth firsthand, not only throughout the season but throughout her athletic career at WHS.
“From the beginning of the season, we’ve seen Mairin grow more confident and more assertive with each game. Early on, she was finding her rhythm and learning how to pick her spots while setting her teammates up, which resulted in her leading the team in assists, with multiple games of five or more assists. As the season’s gone on, she’s become more aggressive offensively. She has always been comfortable taking and making big shots,” McKeon said.
One of the primary factors in the Blue Devils’ success is the chemistry the team has developed. “This accomplishment shows that our team has been playing as a unit, it shows how close our team is on and off the court. It translates all into our amazing passes and amazing gameplay,” Fowler said.
Fowler also credited her teammates for continuing to create offensive opportunities and maintaining a high level of energy to fuel her gameplay.
“I’m really appreciative of my teammates and how well we’ve been playing together this season,” she said. “This is the time when we want to be playing our best, and I hope I can continue to bring this energy moving forward into the county final. My teammates provided everything for me to have success in this game. Their hustle on defense and hearing everyone supporting me from the bench meant everything to me. That support gives me the motivation to keep going.”
McKeon also believes that this accomplishment sends an important message to underclassmen and future players. “If you stay patient, keep working and buy into the team culture, your moment will come,” said McKeon. “Mairin’s night is a perfect example for our younger players: if you put in the time and stay ready, you’ll be prepared when your opportunity arrives.”
As the Blue Devils prepare to enter the state tournament, the team will look for more opportunities to prove its success, both as individual players and as a team.
