Staff photo by Jake Olson: Fairmont's Brylee Miller heads toward the hoop during the second half against Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City on Jan 3. The Cardinals have a 23-1 record this season, winning their last 15 contests.

FAIRMONT – Brylee Miller’s mind wasn’t on the scoring record heading into Tuesday night. Her sight was on the bigger picture, hoping to power the Fairmont girls past Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial for its 14th consecutive win of the season.

Miller is used to making history with her success in the Cardinal basketball program. Just last year, she topped Ashley Alleven-Stensland’s previous girls record of 1,307 points during the opening moments of a Feb 6 contest at Redwood Valley.

But this time was different. Miller was vying to become the all-time leading scorer in Fairmont basketball history, a record held by Mitch Pfingsten, whose illustrious career totaled 2,113 points during his time on the team.

At the start of the second half, she needed one more basket to reach the sought-after scoring mark. Miller said that up to this point, the scoring had come naturally to her during the ebbs and flows of the game.

“Going into the game, and even against Granada [last week], Junk brought it up to me, saying that I was close,” Miller said. “I knew what I was at, but I was just trying to play the game and do it for my teammates.”

Cardinal head coach Sara Junkermeier and her staff wanted to eclipse the record right away, drawing up a play for Miller to convert an easy basket in the paint. While the first attempt went south, it was Fairmont’s next possession where history was made.

Fairmont guard Olive Kawecki handled the ball on the left side of the court, tossing a pass that stretched beyond a pair of blue jerseys before landing in Miller’s hands. Miller used a quick power dribble before skying up for the low-post finish.

As the ball fell through the net, Cardinal teammates and fans in the stands erupted with applause, congratulating the future Minnesota State commit for her accomplishment.

“Honestly, I kind of wanted to get it right away so we could just be done with it and keep playing the game. But it was a really great feeling,” Miller said jokingly. “I went up and gave my mom and dad a hug after. My dad said to keep playing and get back into the game, and that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”

This basket capped a climb that spanned five seasons at the varsity level, putting Miller’s name above all others who have ever worn a Fairmont jersey.

“It’s a really big accomplishment,” Miller said. “It’s definitely something I’ve been striving for since I was little. It’s just great to have so many people around to help celebrate this, especially my teammates, the coaches and even the community.”

Always a Cardinal

Miller’s aspirations for playing the sport began as soon as she could keep a dribble alive. Her mom, Tammy, remembers taking Miller to see her older sister, Bryn, participate in a few Fairmont basketball camps in her early years. Even at around age four, she still wanted to run the same drills.

Other sports claimed Miller’s attention throughout her elementary playing days. Softball, volleyball, soccer, and gymnastics were all passions growing up. But the time she spent at the Fairmont and even Minnesota State gymnasiums pushed basketball to the top of her interests.

This guided Miller to emulate the players she admired, hoping to one day play on similar hardwood through practice and perseverance. Her father, Jeff, still won’t say no to going to a gym and helping his daughter perfect her skills.

“It was super nice to grow up in a gym and see how stuff goes,” Miller said. “Junk coached [Bryn], so I got to see how she runs the team. It’s [the gym] definitely been a place I’ve been to a lot. Going to all the away games, I was always there.”

Competing at the next level

Miller’s jump to the varsity basketball team wasn’t the typical transition as seen for most other athletes. In fact, it started halfway through her eighth-grade season.

Although she didn’t see the significant minutes she plays today, the brief taste of new competition laid the foundation for what became a long, record-shattering varsity career. Miller credits the countless upperclassmen athletes for showing her the ropes as a player and making the transition smooth.

“It’s something you look forward to,” Miller said in regard to her transition. “But the second you get up there, it’s a little nerve-wracking. You are the youngest one on the team, but I had a great group of seniors the year I moved up that helped me feel comfortable.”

Fairmont finished this season with a 24-4 record. The Cardinals made it to the Section 3AA Girls’ Basketball championship, falling to Montevideo 43-32 and ending their impressive campaign.

As one of the youngest players on the roster, Miller’s role was limited. She earned a handful of minutes each game, focusing on the small things whenever she stepped on the floor – defense, rebounding and making the right pass. That season gave her confidence in her ability to belong on the varsity level and helped set the tone for the player she would become.

Looking ahead

Miller’s growth across all facets of the game has helped propel Fairmont to one of its strongest starts in her time on the team. The Cardinal’s 23-1 record has placed them at No. 9 in the latest Class 2A rankings.

According to Miller, this season’s team has been one of the most fun groups she has been a part of. The immediate chemistry the roster showed during pre-season practices and off-court activities has pushed them close as a team, leading to a trust on the court that is apparent to anyone lucky enough to watch.

The Cardinals face Jackson County Central and Worthington before challenging Marshall next Tuesday in the Big South Conference Championship.

“With all of the team-building activities we’ve done outside of practice, we clicked right away,” Miller said. “It’s just been super fun to play with this team and connect with all of them.”