After the first quarter, the Blue Devils were up 17-1, and while a lead of such a high margin might be a surprise for the Quarterfinal Round of the Sectional Tournament, Westfield’s dominance only proved what has been evident for the entire season: the team is on a mission to go all the way.
The Blue Devils’ 58-27 win over Watchung Hills, the 10-seed, brought their record to 20-7 for the season, and if they keep playing to their full potential as they have been for the entirety of the Sectional Tournament, it will be no surprise if their winning streak continues.
“We did not expect to win by a large margin, we just played very well today,” said head coach Liz McKeon. “Watchung Hills is a very good team, they are young, so they will be very good in a couple of years.”
However, the Blue Devils are not focused on next year, or the year after: they are centered in the present, eyes and minds on the next play, the next game and pushing to get their next win.
The Sectional Quarterfinal started off on a high note, and the Blue Devils held their energy and poise until the final whistle. Two free throws from senior tri-captain Darby Hubner in the first five minutes of the game added to the team’s fire, and not once did they burn out.
“Our mindset was the same that it always is,” said Hubner. “We knew it was an important game as it [was] the State Quarterfinal, but we just wanted to focus on ourselves, understand the other team’s strengths and how to capitalize on their weaknesses.”
Despite the Blue Devils’ dominance over the Lady Warriors, Watchung Hills had a number of costly steals throughout the game. “We need to improve on the sloppiness, sharp passes and cuts, we had a lot of turnovers today,” said junior Mairin Fowler. “Once we play a better team, those can hurt us a lot.”
However, regardless of the minor mistakes, Fowler complimented her team’s performance: “The effort was definitely there, the energy on the court was something we did well today.”
Westfield’s energy extended to all 13 players on the roster, with all of the Blue Devils getting into the game and 9 getting points on the board. The effort and drive to win was evident on the bench and the court, emphasizing the relentless spirit of the Blue Devils in this State Tournament.
Senior tri-captain Sophie Lane led the game with 17 points, while Fowler, the game’s leader in assists, had 12 points. The Blue Devils locked down on defense, but it was their offense that propelled them forward. Westfield showed their dominance on the court by getting to every ball first and pushing their way into the paint.
At halftime, the Blue Devils were up by a margin of 16 points, but they held Watchung Hills to just one point in the first quarter compared to their 17. Westfield came back just as fierce after halftime, bringing their lead to 48-21 after the third quarter.
Fowler had four three-pointers and was the Blue Devils’ leader in steals against the Lady Warriors. Moreover, Fowler, senior tri-captain Megan Logan and sophomore Kate Cymbor were tied for the lead in rebounds, with five each.
Westfield’s win over Watchung Hills was a full-team effort. It was their continuously united determination, dynamic and drive that propelled them into the Sectional Semifinal.
“Going forward, we just have to keep doing what we’re doing and prepare for every game the same way,” said Hubner. McKeon agreed, adding, “we have to continue to put our foot on the gas and not take it off because it’s win or go home.
The Blue Devils will look to conquer Union, the 11-seed, on Tuesday at home, time TBD, in the Semifinal Round of the Sectional Tournament.
