On March 14, Westfield girls basketball finished off their season — filled with career milestones and team victories — with a tough loss in the Group 4 State Final to Lenape. Despite the game’s end result not being the one the Blue Devils aimed for, they took home hardware throughout the season and cemented one of the most accomplished years in program history.
Westfield started the season hot with a nine-game winning streak, kicking it off with a 49-42 win against Gill St. Bernard’s and ending that run with a 59-36 win against Union Catholic. Senior tri-captain Darby Hubner said, “We were definitely playing off of our success from the season before, sort of picking up where we left off and continuing to foster that chemistry both on and off the court. We were playing together, and we continued to do so throughout the season, especially at the beginning. We were ready to go.”
After this streak, however, the Blue Devils lost their next three games to West Orange, New Providence and Franklin. Nevertheless, Westfield didn’t let this get them down. Head coach Liz McKeon said, “They stayed together, didn’t point fingers and got back to our priorities: defense, rebounding and playing for each other. That stretch ended up making us tougher and more prepared for the postseason.”
The Blue Devils responded positively to this three-loss streak with five wins in a row to Cranford, Plainfield, Roselle Catholic, Ramapo and Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Their game against Ramapo was particularly impactful, as they truly saw themselves as one team rather than just five individuals. Junior Mairin Fowler said, “It’s a testament to how we developed over the course of the season. We were able to bounce back after three tough losses in a row and never looked back from there.”
Additionally, throughout the season, the Blue Devils reached many accomplishments, including breaking school records and becoming Union County champions. Senior tri-captain Sophie Lane set the single-season scoring record with 535 points, and she was also the 7th female to score 1,000 points. She ultimately ended her career as the 4th all-time scorer with 1,222 points, reaching this milestone in 3 years. Senior tri-captain Megan Logan had numerous career milestones: 10th in all-time steals (164), 9th in all-time scoring (906 points), 6th in all-time assists (242), 2nd in all-time rebounding (703) and, more importantly, broke every record for blocks. She was 1st in most blocks in a season with 121 this year, 1st in most blocks in a career with 263 and she also recorded the most blocks in a game twice, with 8.
Fowler also had many career highs: she tied the single-game record for assists with 11 against Watchung Hills in the state tournament, is second for most assists in a season with 145 and holds the record for most three-pointers in a game with 7 in their county game against Union Catholic. Fowler said, “I was able to stay really composed during high-pressure moments, and those moments are when I play my best. I really love playing when it matters and being able to help my team in any way I can.”
The Blue Devils’ offense and defense were extremely locked down this season, with strong players on both ends of the floor. The team attested that their selflessness was one reason they were able to improve offensively. Fowler said, “We were able to move the ball and pass up a good shot for an even better one, which is what allowed our team chemistry to flourish. I’m really proud of the way we adjusted that this year.”
Logan was a key defender on Westfield this season. With four years on varsity under her belt, she established herself early, leading her team to lean on her in big moments. Logan said, “[The team] believed in my abilities and relied on me to be a key part of our defense. That trust motivated me to work harder and stay focused because I knew I wasn’t just playing for myself, but for the whole team.”
A highlight game for the Blue Devils was their state semifinal against West Orange at the Dunn Center. Westfield has had a bit of history with West Orange in recent years, not only losing to them earlier in the season, but also losing to them in the state semifinal last season. This game did not follow that trend, however, as they defeated them 56-52. Hubner said, “That game, honestly, was just unforgettable. There were some rough moments, but we were able to finish it out and go to the state final. That game was super memorable.”
Their next game was their biggest and most important yet: the state final. The Blue Devils faced Lenape in Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers University. While they lost 52-42, McKeon is most proud of how they competed throughout the game. She said, “There was no panic, no quitting. They kept fighting, kept executing and represented our program the right way. Even when things didn’t go our way, their effort and composure never wavered. That says a lot about their character and the kind of team they are.”
One aspect of the team that remains true every year, but was particularly prevalent this season, was the team’s chemistry and support for each other. “Spending that time together helped us build trust and understand each other’s playing styles better,” said Logan. “The effort we made to push ourselves and support one another during practice created a strong bond that showed in our games. That connection made our team work better together and our defense tighter.”
“This team reinforced how important toughness, depth and consistency are every single day. You can’t just turn it on in big moments, you have to build those habits all season,” McKeon said. “Moving forward, we want to continue developing depth and making sure we’re even more consistent in those day-to-day details. This group set a high standard, and now it’s about making sure that becomes the expectation every year.”
Despite letting go of five strong seniors, the Westfield girls basketball program is in good hands for next season. The underclassmen look to continue their legacy while building names for themselves and carrying forward the standard of excellence established by this season’s team.
