High School Sports
Girls state player of the year: Brewe persevered, led Meadowdale to 3A title

By Sandy Ringer
Seattle Times staff reporter

	JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES Quinn Brewe helps cut down the net after scoring 31 points in the state-title game.
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A moment of glory.

For Quinn Brewe, it was a long time coming and a short-lived break from her usual regimen of basketball and books.

Brewe briefly basked in the spotlight with the rest of her Meadowdale teammates after returning to school last week as Class 3A girls state basketball champions.

"It was a really good vibe at school," she said. "It was really exciting having a moment of glory."

Today, Brewe is the center of attention again as The Seattle Times female state player of the year. The 2003-04 season was packed with primetime players, but none stood out more than the 6-foot-1 Brewe.

"I thought she had an awesome year and an outstanding state tournament to cap it off," Meadowdale coach Karen Blair said.

Brewe saved two of her finest performances for the final two games of her prep career. In Meadowdale's semifinal victory over Chief Sealth, she had 27 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots. Then she went off for 31 points and 11 rebounds in the title game against Rainier Beach.

"They were my last two games," Brewe said. "I wanted to leave everything I had on the floor. I didn't want to have any regrets. I left it all out there."

There had been plenty of regrets the three previous seasons. Brewe was a promising freshman when she suffered a season-ending ankle injury after playing in just two games. She watched as the Mavericks placed fourth at the state tournament.
 
As a sophomore, Brewe had a school-record 24 rebounds against Mariner — one of eight school records she holds. She had a solid season, but Meadowdale again fell short of its championship dreams, finishing fifth.

Last year was supposed to be a big year for both Brewe and her team. Then, a quarter of the way through the season, she tore her medial collateral ligament and was sidelined for a dozen games. But she made an amazing comeback and led the unbeaten Mavs to the state quarterfinals before their title hopes were crushed again, this time in double-overtime against Black Hills. They came back to place fourth.

This season, Brewe settled for nothing less than being the best. She averaged 18.4 points and 12.9 rebounds in 25 games, despite playing the final part of the season with a hyperextended right elbow.

The rugged journey only made reaching the final destination even sweeter for Brewe.

"In the end, I had such a passion for the game because I realized I missed it so much (when she couldn't play)," she said. "This year, I was so determined."

Blair said one of the most impressive things about Brewe was the way she developed into a banger in the middle over the past three years when she originally was more of an outside player. She was about 5-9 when she arrived as a freshman.

"She had to adjust to playing on the inside and become more physical," Blair said.

But Brewe, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average, can still shoot the long ball, something fans should see more of when she takes the court at Seattle Pacific University next season.

"She's going to surprise some people when she gets to SPU," Blair said. "She's got the ability to step out and shoot the ball."

Brewe can't wait to take the next step. She is following SPU's journey through the NCAA Division II tournament with avid interest and hopes the Falcons finish on top after a disappointing conclusion last year — just like her Meadowdale team did.

"We've both had similar seasons," Brewe said. "I hope they get that national championship. They're such a great team. I love watching them play. It would kind of be a fairy tale if they won it, too."

Sometimes, her senior season still seems like a fairy tale to Brewe. She realizes how special winning that state championship is. She thinks of the many great players who have never been able to experience the thrill — including her parents, Kelly and Eric Brewe, who starred at Shorecrest and the University of Puget Sound.

"There are a lot of players better than I am who never got that opportunity," she said. "I think later in life when I look back on it, I think I'll be really proud of the good old days."

And that moment of glory.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company