Maddy Young breaks record for career three-pointers

Senior girls basketball player Maddy Young broke the record for career three-pointers on Saturday, Jan. 30 in a home game against Wellington.

Head basketball coach Bryce Baugh explained that the previous record was 154 career three-pointers, which was set in 2008 by Monica Gustin, and Young set the new record at 170 career three-pointers.

Young said she needed to make three three-pointers in the game in order to break the record. She noted that she scored the record-breaking three-pointer in the second quarter off of a pass by junior Grace Heilman.

Heilman said she is proud of Young’s accomplishment.

“I am very happy that I got to give her the assist,” she said. “It was an honor because she deserves this achievement.”

It was a surprise to Young when she broke the record, Baugh said. When she scored the record-breaking three-pointer, Baugh called a timeout, and there was a short celebration for her. He said he was glad that he kept it a secret and that few people knew about her opportunity to break the record.

“To see the surprise and happiness on her face made it all worth it,” he said.

Young said she was shocked when she found out that she had broken the record, but she was glad that she was surprised when she achieved this.

“I had no clue, and honestly I was just really happy,” she said. “There are no other words to explain it. I was just really grateful to meet that accomplishment unexpectedly.”

When Young made the three-pointer, Baugh explained that her teammates were excited for her and celebrated by giving her hugs and high fives. He added that the coaches gave her a painted basketball with her name on it, titling her the career three-pointer record holder.

“Everyone is proud of Maddy because they feel as if they are a part of it because Maddy isn’t someone who takes all the credit,” he said. “She’s very appreciative of what her teammates have done for her.”

Young is the team captain and point guard, and she has been the varsity point guard for all four years, she said. She explained that her role on the team has evolved throughout her career from a nervous freshman to a senior leader and captain. The new role of captain and team leader has challenged her in a positive way, she said.

“At first it was a little bit overwhelming, but it’s definitely pushed me to become more of a leader,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the younger girls and being the older person on the team.”

Young explained that she played with the same team freshman and sophomore year, but she experienced a whole new coaching staff and team her junior year. She added that the change was drastic but positive because the new coaching staff and younger players were determined and offered new energy.

“It was a dramatic change, but I think I got extremely lucky with just the people who joined me junior year,” she explained. “They made the process so smooth, easy and fun.”

Going into her senior year, Young worked hard in the summer in order to improve her shot and to achieve this record, Baugh explained. He added that she made over 2,000 three-pointers over the past summer, and that led her to shoot 45% from the three-point line during the season.

Young added that she was determined and willing to practice hard in the offseason because basketball is an important part of her life, and she has a lot of love and passion for the game.

“I really enjoy playing basketball, I love watching basketball and I love talking about basketball, so it’s more than a sport, it’s more of a passion,” she said. “It’s something I love to do, and it has played a really big role in my life because it has helped me steer my mindset in a positive direction.”

Young explained that she is thankful for basketball because it has taught her to value effort and understand that hard work yields positive results.

“I worked hard at basketball for 13 years, and it is finally paying off with this award,” she said. “Hard work leads to achievement and success.”

Young feels grateful that she got to play basketball at the high school, and she is thankful for the opportunities it has given her to succeed.

“It was a really fun and exciting journey that I’m glad I took part of, and I’m thankful that it taught me a lot of things,” she said.