OUR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK COMMUNITY PARTNER
Each week, Monitor staff selects and interviews a local Athlete of the Week. Learn more about their accomplishments, their goals and what makes them unique. We’d like to thank our sponsor Capital City Kia.
Our partners do not participate in the selection of these athletes. That is fully at the discretion of our journalists.
Kate Stephens knocked down a three-pointer on Friday to reach her long-awaited goal of reaching 1,000 career points.
Her 19-point performance against Milford put her on a long list of Pembroke Academy Spartans to reach the milestone, becoming the sixth girl and the 19th player in school history to do so.
The last girl to score 1,000 for the Spartans was Annelise Dexter in 2024, and on that day, Stephens gave Dexter a big hug on the court.
The team’s new head coach this season, Noah Cummings, reached the milestone for the Spartans in 2019.
Some of that history may have rubbed off.
This season, Stephens has elevated her scoring to new heights at the right time. She leads a Spartan team that has the first seed in Division II with an undefeated 18-0 record.
The squad is poised to debut in the playoffs on Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of No. 8 Coe-Brown and No. 9 Hanover.
The Monitor checked in with Stephens after closing the season on a strong note with high expectations for a postseason journey.
Q: When did you start playing basketball and what made you stick with it?
A: I’ve been playing basketball since I was 6 years old. I loved the challenge of the game.
Q: What do you love most about basketball?
A: What I love most is all the opportunities I’ve had and all the people along the way who have supported me. Being a member of an AAU basketball team and traveling to various states is not something everyone can do, but my parents gave their time to make sure I could.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?
A: I strive to get better, even outside of practice. I don’t like to tell people the extra time I put in; I just show it on the court. As a member of a team, I want to make sure everyone has opportunities on the court, making plays for others is just as important as my own plays.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about your successful season so far?
A: I enjoy winning, being a member of a great team, learning from new coaches and team bonding.
Q: What was your path to 1,000 points like?
A: My path to 1,000 points didn’t really start until my junior year when I took on a bigger role. Along the way, I didn’t think to myself, ‘every game gets me closer to 1,000 points,’ I just let it come to me.
Q: Going into Friday’s game, knowing you were close to 1,000 points, what were you thinking?
A: I knew I was close but tried not to think too much about it. I brushed those thoughts aside and played my game. I really didn’t want to stress about it.
Q: How did it feel to reach that milestone?
A: Reaching my 1,000 points was a relief. Although I tried not to think about it much, it was a huge goal that I was happy I was able to reach. Senior night made that moment feel much more special to me.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced in or outside of sports that you’ve overcome to continue succeeding in basketball?
A: My biggest challenge has always been confidence. I’ve learned that low-scoring games and feeling down sometimes have no impact on how I am as a player or person. When I do start to think this way in a game, I always think ‘next play,’ as my dad would say.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories playing for Pembroke?
A: Some of my favorite memories playing for the Pembroke Spartans are the great friends I’ve made, fun bus rides and delicious team dinners.
Q: How have your teammates, coaches and family supported you through your journey?
A: I’m very lucky to have such a supportive team, coaching staff, and family. They have all been by my side through the ups and downs. They have been there to lift me up and tell me how much they believe and trust in me. They have all helped shape me into the player I am today and I am thankful for all of them.
Q: How do you feel your team can make a strong playoff debut and continue winning?
A: Our team is ready for playoffs; we put so much time into our game and work hard during practice. The regular season is over, playoffs are a fresh start, and we are all very excited and ready for the challenge.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give to other basketball players who dream of reaching 1,000 points?
A: Not think so deeply about it. It’s ok to have those 5 or 8 point games. You’ll be disappointed, but try to stay positive and keep working hard.
Q: What do you have planned for the future as you approach graduation?
A: I’m not certain what my future holds after graduation. I hope to take my basketball career to the college level and work toward a career in health care.