TACOMA – Their journey began six years and several vertical inches ago at Meadowdale Middle School basketball games in and around Lynnwood.
The ride finally ended Saturday on the stage of stages in front of a raucous crowd at the Class 3A girls state tournament championship game at the Tacoma Dome.
The last buzzer triggered infectious grins, joyful embraces, frenzied dances and victory chants. After coming so close year after year, Meadowdale High School’s five seniors laid claim to possibly the most coveted trophy and one of the few not already in their possession with a 66-53 triumph against Rainier Beach.
For Quinn Brewe, Anne Martin, Kristine Marte, Ashleigh Graham and Justine Lewis winning has been the rule, never the exception. The numbers speak for themselves: a 67-1 record in Western Conference South Division games, a 98-9 overall record and four straight finishes of fifth or better at state.
“It’s been a growing process,” Meadowdale head coach Karen Blair said. “And it’s been different for all of them.”
Brewe, Martin and Marte were sure-shots, lettering all four years.
Graham and Lewis, a pair of hardworking inside players, earned three and two letters, respectively. Both toiled tirelessly and did much of the grunt work to become essential gears in the Maverick victory machine.
This season, Meadowdale molded an unusual combination of experience and youth. Along with the five seniors, five Maverick freshmen saw floor time this year, the most in Blair’s 10 years at the school. The seniors kept everything running smoothly.
“Their leadership was huge,” Blair said.
When practice drills became sloppy or focus faltered among the frosh, Blair said simply, “Seniors, get them in line.”
Just like that, problem solved.
Brewe, a powerful 6-foot-1 post, and Martin, a 5-foot-9 perimeter markswoman, led the championship march, capping superb tourney performances with first-team all-tournament honors. The Seattle Pacific University-bound Brewe was named the tourney MVP, an honor cemented by her dominating 31-point, 11-rebound effort Saturday. Brewe averaged 20.3 points and 11.8 rebounds overall.
Martin scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the final. She averaged 15.3 points per game in the tournament.
The pair combined to attack from every angle.
“They’ve just complimented each other so well with their inside-out game,” Blair said.
The other seniors also stepped up in the final. Marte, a quick 5-foot-7 guard, dished out four assists and defended well. Lewis scored seven points and had eight rebounds. Graham was instant energy off the bench and made 2 of 3 shots for four points.
Meadowdale’s seniors achieved their ultimate goal, but the road was rough at times.
Brewe overcame several injuries in her career, including an injured left knee that sidelined her for five weeks last season.
As a sophomore Martin suffered a broken nose one game before state, where she had to wear a protective plastic facemask. Last year Martin battled an ankle injury, something Graham endured this season.
And despite being the most prolific 3-point shooter in school history (202 career 3s), Martin had struggled in past state tournaments to find her shot in the cavernous Tacoma Dome. Not so this time around, as she sank 12 long bombs in four games. She smashed her previous school record for 3s in a season (64) in the process, finishing with 75.
Along with the rest of the seniors, Brewe and Martin made sure Meadowdale delivered on its potential. Claiming four Wesco North titles and three district chamionships was sweet, but winning that elusvive state crown was the frosting.
Overcoming bumps, bruises and stinging tournament losses “made us a lot stronger,” Martin said. “After each season we learned what we needed to change and then we came back. I think we perfected it.
“It’s just so awesome, with us (seniors) being so close and playing together since seventh grade.”
“We’ve been through a lot together over four years,” Brewe said. “We’ve had all the hype but not the championship.
“I’d say this is definitely the highlight of my career. Gosh, I can’t believe it’s over.”
“We were just hungry,” Graham added. “This needed to be our year.”
Change is on the way. Next year the Fantastic Five seniors move on. The remaining Mavs, including the only varsity-tested senior-to-be, starting guard Ashley Fenimore, move up to compete in the Class 4A ranks.
Facing such daunting thoughts before Saturday’s game, the Mavericks had already formed a bond measured by more than victories and championships, one that graduation and game clocks can never erode.
“Regardless of if we won or lost,” Marte said, “we worked hard all four years.
“We’re like family now.”
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