Sometimes a player is so good their game starts to be taken for granted. They become so consistently great that the nightly statistical excellence and double-digit winning streaks turn from eye-opening to expected.
In the case of Wyomissing senior and Albany commit Amaya Stewart, it became more shocking when she didn’t have a 20-point, 10-rebound, multi-block game and lift her team to 10 straight victories. When she did, it was normal. Just another day in the office.
"She was just somebody who worked on her craft tirelessly," Wyomissing head coach Aaron Anders said. "Not just with us, but in the offseason. She is an unbelievable player and person. I said to her when I gave her a hug [at the end of the Spartans' 58-45 season-ending loss to Neumann-Goretti Wednesday]: This is only the beginning for you. This isn't the end. But it has been an absolute joy to coach her."
The 6-1 Stewart is off to Albany to start her next journey with the Great Danes after leaving her mark as the top player in Wyomissing girls basketball history, breaking Rachel Hoffman's school record set in 1994 and finishing her career as the No. 7 scorer in Berks girls basketball history.
"New goals, new achievements," Stewart said of what she's looking forward to in college. "It's just preparing myself for what's next. I'm ready for the grind, I'm ready to break more records."
It's important to recognize the impact Stewart had not only on the basketball court, but also in the community, where she inspired the youth and brought Spartan Nation together, young and old, to support its girls basketball team. When Stewart was playing, you had to be there.
Even in the loss to Neumann-Goretti at Spring-Ford High School in Royersford, Spartan Nation was there clapping its hands when Stewart checked out with 20 seconds left in her illustrious high school basketball career.
The loudest applause didn't come in the singular moment when Stewart made the free throw with 1:29 left in the second quarter to break Hoffman's 31-year-old scoring record, it occurred during her final moments in a Spartan uniform to commemorate a transformational four-year career on and off the court.
"I know I had a lot of goals for myself and was setting myself a high standard," Stewart said. "It was just about reaching those little goals every single day. That's what got me here. My teammates and coaches got me here. It's very important to me that I was able to reach this."
Stewart loved the game of basketball so much and worked so hard at it that she turned herself into a local superstar and elevated Wyomissing’s girls basketball program into the same conversations that typically involved the school's football team.
The totality of on-court accomplishments include 1,904 career points, two Berks titles, three District 3 titles, and six PIAA playoff victories.
Suddenly the school just outside of Reading, Pa., which had never won a Berks or District 3 title before Stewart's arrival, was participating in a state playoff rivalry with Philly powerhouse Neumann-Goretti with three straight years of the teams matching up. (Wyomissing won the first two.)
"Every year we wanted to take one more step on that ladder and continue to build the program," Anders said. "Wyomissing's girls basketball program was very, very good before. When you look at their record in the 80's, 90's, and early 2000's, they were competitive but we couldn't necessarily get over that hump. A few times we made it to districts.
"Now, we're known in the state. We're known for girls basketball in District 3 and the state of Pennsylvania. That's pretty special."
Despite it all, Stewart’s kind, team-first nature and infectious smile never wavered. If the never-ending flock of media was waiting for her outside of the locker room following a brutal loss, Stewart graciously answered. If the janitor picked up her trash, she thoughtfully said thank you. Every person received the same respect.
Stewart's mother Gena Copeland instilled these values into her from a young age. Copeland raised her as a single mother following the tragic passing of Stewart's father when she was only nine years old.
"I always told her to care about everybody," Copeland said. "Whether it's the janitor or the President, you treat everybody the same way. Treat people the way you want to be treated. If her dad was here on earth, he would be super, super proud of not only the player, but the person she is. She is just like her dad. He was there tonight. He's never left us. He's always with us."
It just so happened that a young Stewart also had a basketball in her hands while learning these values.
"I've seen Amaya grow from a young baby to a beautiful young woman," Copeland said. "Her game has grown tremendously. She went from walking to making all of the buckets. She always had a basketball in her hand and wanted to be at the park watching the boys play."
The past four seasons, Wyomissing boys and girls flooded the Spartans' gymnasium to watch their idol Stewart play. Who knows, maybe one will be inspired to create the same impact she has.
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