Lincoln senior Maddi Stewart has accomplished a lot during her career as a Bulldog.
A state championship last spring.
Three other state tournament appearances.
Countless awards and accolades.
But last week, Stewart stood by herself in two different areas, further cementing herself as one of the all-time great athletes at Lincoln Christian.
Stewart not only broke the career scoring record at Lincoln set by former standout Ellie Brueggeman, but set a new career scoring record at the prestigious Tournament of Champions.
The senior finished with 13 points against Bixby last Wednesday, breaking a record that has stood since 2013-14, as Stewart finished her four-year TOC career with an all-time best 203 points.
"It was such an honor to be able to break a record like that and it felt great to celebrate that with my teammates," said the senior. "The Tournament of Champions will always have a special place in my heart as it has been a focal point in my career over the past four years."
Stewart had 21 points and 11 rebounds last week in the first round win over Sequoyah Tahlequah and followed that up with 27 points and seven rebounds in a semifinal loss to Union last Tuesday.
The senior went 8-4 in the Tournament of Champions during her four years, helping her team to the 2022 title.
"As for the TOC it has meant everything to see the invite back each year," the senior said. "Obviously it was such a blessing to win it my freshman year but the experiences I have gained from being back each year have been priceless to me."
She also sits alone at the top with 1,490 points in her Lincoln career across 102 games as Bulldog.
And Stewart still has 20 or so games left in the next few months.
"Breaking the scoring record felt great," she said. "Ellie Brueggemann was an elite level player and I looked up to her so highly, so to be able to surpass the record she set means the world to me."
Her mom, head coach Melody Stewart praised her daughter for her ability to score and how she has grown in that area throughout her career.
"She's grown tremendously as a scorer over her career," said her mom. "Early on, she relied more on athleticism, but over the years she's developed a deeper understanding of the game."
"Her shot selection, decision-making, and ability to score in multiple ways have all improved. More than anything, she's learned how to impact the game even when she's not scoring, which speaks to her maturity as a player."
The head coach also talked about how well-rounded she is as a player, highlighting her IQ as something that helps her as a scorer and overall leader.
"Maddi doesn't rely on just one thing to score," said her mom. "She's a high motor kid which puts her in the right place at the right time a lot. She understands the game, reads defenses well, and is willing to take what the game gives her."
"Whether that's attacking the basket, hitting from the perimeter, or making the right play for a teammate, she's efficient, unselfish, and plays with confidence, which makes her difficult to guard."
Though these millstones are special and represent the stellar career Stewart has had, her eyes are still pointed forward, as she has her team at 8-2 and still ranked No. 1 in Class 4A.
"These milestones are exactly that, they're just milestones on the path to something bigger," said Stewart.
The senior leads her team in scoring and rebounding through 10 games, averaging 15.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Lincoln is 91-10 during Stewart's career.
"There are so many more things for me and this team to accomplish this season and this is only the beginning. God has so much in store for this group of girls and we are soon going to see the fruits of all our labor."
Spoken like a true leader, which Stewart has become, both on the floor and off the floor, by example and vocally, and is probably the thing her mom is most proud of.
"God has blessed me so much throughout my coaching career but coaching Maddi has been a particularly special gift," said the head coach. "As a coach, I'm incredibly proud of the work she's put in and the consistency she's shown over time."
"But as a mom, it's special on a completely different level. I've seen the early mornings, the extra shots, the setbacks, and the quiet determination when things didn't go her way. To watch her senior season reflect all of that effort is rewarding, not just because of the numbers, but because she's earned every bit of it."
This latest recognition for Stewart is the newest among many honors throughout her career, but its what she does in the day-to-day that sets her apart, makes her the leader of the elite Lincoln program and drives her to keep reaching new levels of great.
"She leads by example every day in practice, in preparation, and in how she carries herself," said the head coach ."She brings consistency, toughness, and accountability, and that's something younger players see and follow. Our program is better because she shows what it looks like to be committed to the team first."
"She could be a lot of places and just racking up points but that's not her heart for this game," her mom said. "She wants to accomplish something bigger than herself. She wants to go win state again."
As Lincoln and Stewart turn the page on 2025 and head into conference play, there are loftier goals ahead.
And as the Bulldogs try to hoist the gold ball for the second straight season, their leader couldn't be more focused and ready to lead the way.
"I am hoping that the second half of this season would bring nothing but growth for this team," Stewart said. "I want to continue on an upward motion with this group as the season goes on."
"Ultimately I just hope we can continue to form into the best team we possibly can on and off the court. I say let God handle the rest because His plan for our team is better than anything I could ever hope for or imagine."
Photos by Lee Talley
