The stands erupted as senior tri-captain Sophie Lane drilled a three from the corner, marking her 1000th career point. Westfield called a timeout as teammates mobbed her, and head coach Liz McKeon brought out a banner, flowers and balloons to celebrate her accomplishment.
Though all the eyes were focused on Lane, she believed the milestone wasn’t reached on her own. She said, “It means a lot. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. They help us win every game, and they’re able to get me the ball in the right place.”
Lane was just the 7th player in WHS girls basketball history to score 1000 points. McKeon was the second, and she said, “I love it. She’s only 17 points away from breaking my record. I want nothing more. It couldn’t happen to a better person. She has worked so hard. I’m very proud of her.”
Playing alongside her is just as special. Senior tri-captain Darby Hubner said, “I love playing with Sophie. She’s always been super dependable on the court. I played with her every year of high school. We definitely learned how to play with each other, and our chemistry has grown.”
Lane led the way for the Blue Devils with 26 points, while senior tri-captain Megan Logan contributed 8 rebounds and 6 assists in their dominant 56-36 win over SPF.
Westfield started hot, connecting on numerous three-point shots in the first quarter. Lane and Hubner led the way as the team was able to cement their lead in the first quarter, getting off to an 11-4 start. Hubner, focusing on her quick start, said, “It helps propel both our offense and our defense. The whole team starts to play more cohesively when we know our shots are falling, and it just leads to a better, quicker-moving offense.”
Their offensive juggernaut continued in the second quarter as freshman Gella Hollins joined the 3-point party. In the final five minutes of the half, Lane, Hubner and Hollins each cashed in from deep, giving the Blue Devils a 30-13 lead heading into the break.
Because the girls were so stout throughout the game, everyone found some success on the court. Every player on the roster was able to record a stat of their own.
Emphasizing what their win today means, Lane said, “Winning against SPF is important because it helps us going into counties and states. It shows that we can do anything, and if we play together as a team, we can accomplish so many things.”
Westfield looks to continue their impressive season and carry their success over to the playoffs ahead. They travel to Chatham at 12 p.m on Saturday.
