By Benjamin Hong, Co-Editor-In-Chief
During an away game on Wednesday, February 5, for girls basketball against Atholton High School, River Hill senior Dylan Watson cemented her place in school history by scoring her 1000th career point. Watson became just the ninth player in River Hill girls basketball history to reach this milestone, following in the footsteps of Saniha Jackson, who achieved the feat in 2020. The achievement places her among some of the most proficient scorers the school has ever seen, providing ample testimony to her commitment to and aptitude for the sport.
The game itself was a hard-fought battle. Entering the game with a strong 13-5 record, River Hill faced a determined 9-9 Atholton team. At the end of the back-and-forth match, River Hill narrowly emerged victorious with a 48-46 victory over the Raiders. This win added to River Hill’s undefeated record in the Sierra Division, which consists of a group of teams made up of Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Long Reach, River Hill, and Wilde Lake High School talents.
Central to the Hawks’ win was Morgan State University commit Watson, who put up a game-high 19 points to secure both the game and her ascension to the 1000-point club.
The fact that Watson has been a defining factor in River Hill’s success this season should hardly come as a surprise, yet it does not make her dominance any less impressive. On top of her outstanding performance Wednesday, Watson currently leads Howard County girls basketball in points per game (21.3), steals per game (8.1), and is fourth in assists per game (4.2), all while managing to lead her team in every statistical category.
However, her abilities as a player extend far beyond her point-making potential or the defensive threat she poses. As a shooting guard, Watson serves as an effective leader on the floor on top of her prodigious technical skills. The star emphasized that in her capacity as an emotional center point for the team, it was “very important to [her] to provide … the energy, the spark,” following the example of senior team members from when she first joined as a freshman: “I just knew I wanted to be like that as I progressed and got older.”
Watson’s stellar performances have not gone unnoticed by the broader sports community. Most recently among the numerous accolades and plaudits she has received throughout the course of her career, Watson was named Howard County’s Athlete of the Month for December and January, winning 29% of the popular vote over runners-up Sara Yarnell of Hammond High (22%) and Olivia Creighton of River Hill (18%).
Coach Teresa Waters, who teaches business at River Hill and is a legendary coach in her own right, was not surprised by this result, heaping praise on the star by stating, “Dylan is the engine that gets us going. We are so appreciative of her on both ends because she delivers in every capacity, nonstop.” This overwhelming style of play is what Waters views to be what makes Watson such an important element of the team, remarking how the guard is constantly “rebounding, getting steals and making assists. She’s just everywhere. She’s the glue.”
With the playoffs fast approaching, Watson and the Hawks are focused on continuing their current level of superb performance. While the year’s result is far from guaranteed, the amount this iteration of River Hill girls basketball has already accomplished this season cannot be understated. As Watson closes out her high school career, her 1000th point stands as a testament to her dedication and level of skill in the sport she loves and will remain a constant reminder of the indelible impact she leaves behind on the legacy of River Hill basketball.