There’s no use dwelling on the past, or looking too far into the future. Instead, Union’s Brooklynn Haywood has mastered the concept of staying in the present.
“I’ve learned to be where your feet are,” Haywood said. “You just handle what you have at the moment, like, stop looking forward, stop looking behind you. You can’t fix what’s in the past, you can’t handle what’s in the future, so be where your feet are.”
During the grind of a long winter basketball season, the Union junior stayed on an even keel through the highs and lows, helping the Titans accomplish just about every goal they set out to achieve.
Union snapped a multi-year losing streak against rival Camas with back-to-back regular season wins en route to capturing the 4A Greater St. Helens title.
After two early exits in the 4A bi-district tournament in as many years, the Titans took the next step by reaching the Tacoma Dome for the 4A State Round of 12, a stage brand new to every player on the roster.
That included Haywood, The Columbian’s All-Region girls basketball player of the year, who checked more boxes in an already decorated high school career.
Haywood’s state-best 31.4 points per game and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range came as no surprise from one of the top-ranked players in the country.
Better yet, by averaging seven rebounds, five assists, three steals per game and playing tough defense, this season marked Haywood’s best as an all-around force on the court.
“I just feel like Brooklynn is viewed sometimes as a great scorer,” Union coach Gary Mills said, “but she is actually a great basketball player. My goal for her this year was to show what a great basketball player she is.
“For as long as she plays for me, she’s always going to be asked to be aggressive on offense and be a scorer. But she can rebound, she can pass, she gets a lot of steals and she’s a good leader. And, I want people to know that.”
When it comes to playmaking, Mills lauds the star junior for her ability to sense when to take over and when to get teammates involved.
An already delicate balance was made more challenging this season with a new-look team on the floor. Sisters Janessa and Jalise Chatman moved from Ridgefield to Union, rounding out a typical starting five also featuring Haywood, Myla Larry and Carli Christensen.
The Titans’ built their chemistry over the summer, including a week spent together at Oregon State’s team camp, and by the start of the season, the pieces fit together seamlessly.
“It was really a process of learning how to play with each other,” Haywood said. “But, once we got that down and we came into the season, we were the underdogs. … We knew we could do it. It was more of a mindset thing that we believed in ourselves. We didn’t need other people to believe in us. We got that.”
That was especially true in Union’s battles against Camas, the defending 4A state champion, winners of nine straight in the series after a Jan. 10 game Camas won 71-69 despite a furious second-half rally from Haywood and the Titans.
Union snapped the skid with back-to-back wins over Camas on Jan. 30-31, the latter on the Papermakers’ home floor vaulting the Titans toward a 4A GSHL title, which set the stage for their deepest postseason run since 2020.
After a loss to No. 4 seed Woodinville in the 4A State Opening Round, the No. 5 Titans quickly moved on with another practice the following day.
“Be where your feet are,” Haywood thought.
Haywood and her teammates’ first trip to the Tacoma Dome was short-lived, ending in a Round of 12 loss to Glacier Peak, but it didn’t diminish a successful season.
“I’d say we were definitely closer this year. We were really like a family,” Haywood said. “I did an interview after our very last game and I was a mess, crying, but I said that this was the one team that I really felt like we really loved each other and we were really close. We worked our butts off for everything we got. We earned everything.”
The Titans had the right mindset, with Haywood as their leader, and now know what it takes to get there.
“I think it was important for her to show that she views herself as the leader of her team, and I think it was important for her to show that she could get a team to the dome,” Mills said. “That was something that wasn’t on her résumé. There were other things she accomplished but she checked that box this year.
“Next year the goals will be a little bit different. Now we’ll want to win a couple games there, get to Saturday and we’ve got to work toward that.”
Before her final high school season, Haywood will return for another season with Cal Stars Basketball, an AAU team on the Nike EYBL circuit.
After learning from past teammates like Jazzy Davidson (USC) and Addie Deal (Iowa), she’s set to take the reins and play a central role.
“Every single thing they told me, I took in,” Haywood said. “But this year, it’s my turn to be that leader and kind of show what I can do and lead my team to however far we can go.”
All-Region Girls Basketball Team
Player of the Year — Brooklynn Haywood, Union
The Rest of the First Team
Sveva Bernasconi, Mountain View: Exchange student from Italy made an instant impact by earning 3A GSHL Player of the Year honors. Senior forward averaged 16 points on 50 percent shooting, along with 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block per game.
Kennedy Bockert, Woodland: Sophomore post and 2A GSHL POY set single season program records with 562 points and 368 rebounds, highlighted by a 36-point, 25-rebound effort against Ridgefield. Reached 1,001 career points in Woodland’s run to 2A state tournament.
Keirra Thompson, Camas: Senior point guard set single season school record for points (481) and assists (196) while leading Papermakers to 4A state quarterfinals. Earned 4A GSHL first team honors. Signed to Boise State.
Sophie Buzzard, Camas: Along with Thompson, fellow returning senior starter from the team’s 2024 state title run averaged 14.5 points per game and was named 4A GSHL Defensive POY. Signed to Portland State.
Gracie Glavin, Columbia River: Rapids’ leading scorer averaged 14.5 points per game and helped lead Rapids to third straight 2A GSHL title, back-to-back 2A state quarterfinals.
All-Region Second Team
Myla Larry, Union: Versatile sophomore emerged as key catalyst for Titans in their run to 4A GSHL title and 4A state tournament berth. Averaged 9.6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game. Earned 4A GSHL first team honors.
Madison Lee, Seton Catholic: Junior point guard helped lead Cougars to District 4 championship and 1A state quarterfinals in Yakima — both program firsts. Trico League Co-MVP averaged 11 points, 5 assists and 5 steals per game.
Kimora Ross, Evergreen: Junior guard, a three-time All-Region team selection, averaged 13.5 points per game and earned 3A GSHL Defensive POY honors.
Adrian Wright, Evergreen: Senior Swiss Army knife paced Plainsmen with 18.3 points per game. Wright capped a three-year career at Evergreen with the program’s third straight run to 3A bi-district playoffs.
Layla Senderson, Mountain View: Senior 3A GSHL first-team selection averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game with Thunder team that reached state for first time since 2001. Committed to Seattle Pacific.
Bridget Quinn, King’s Way Christian: Do-it-all senior point guard averaged 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per game. Earned Trico League Co-MVP honors and led Knights to 1A state opening round. Signed to Bethel University to play volleyball.
