METHUEN – Stepping out of the locker-room for pregame warmups, Samantha Pfeil was blown away.
“It was incredible to have the whole Methuen community here, to have my teachers, my old coaches, my parents, my family, a lot of people I know, to come and to experience this with them, it’s really special,” the Methuen High senior said.
“It really means a lot to do it in our hometown with some of my favorite people. I’m very grateful to accomplish this.”
Friends, family, faces from the past and so many others, the crowd came to the noon Sunday start at the Klimas Fieldhouse for Pfeil. and she didn’t disappoint. Needing three points coming into the battle with Chelmsford, Pfeil became the 10th player in history to reach the 1,000-point scoring mark with two free throws at the 2:16 mark of the second quarter.
The Pfeil accomplishment turned into a city-wide event, a testament to her impact, not just on the court and off it.
“I’m very happy to be able to experience this with the whole community here, my teammates, my coaches, everyone,” said Pfeil.
“Just the milestone for me, to experience that, it really means a lot to me.”
A Southern New Hampshire University recruit, Pfeil struggled with some pain in her back, and visiting Chelmsford took advantage of things with her spending so much time on the bench in the second half.
She got the Rangers to within six at 26-20 with back-to-back hoops to open the second half before having to leave the game.
Chelmsford then pulled away for the 56-30 win.
“I definitely would have liked to have it end in a win. We tried our hardest, they just played harder than us,” she said.
As she hit the plateau-reaching field goal, members of the boys basketball team – Drew Eason and Earl Pemberton among them – and other friends and classmates rushed the court to celebrate such a special Methuen moment.
In addition to her parents, Jillian Middlemiss, a teacher in the school and fellow Ranger 1,000-point scorer, came out as part of the mid-game ceremony.
“It’s awesome, and to have Jillian Middlemiss here to experience this with me. I see her in school, we talk, it means a lot to do this with her here and to know some of the alumni who have done it,” said Pfeil.