For 25 years the Dave Cowens Leadership Award has been handed to a South Coast senior basketball player for achievements both on and off the court. No Wareham athlete has ever won the award, but there has never been another Amber Filkins.

Filkins said because no one from Wareham had ever won before she was stunned when she heard her name called at the Dave Cowens award ceremony at Greater New Bedford Vocational last Thursday.

"It was honestly a shock. There were so many emotions running through me," she said.

Filkins finished her career as a two-time South Coast Conference all-star and sixth all-time in scoring for Wareham girls basketball with 1,052 points. She owns the Wareham school record for career three-pointers with 201.

She said the highlight of her year was breaking the 1,000-point barrier in a emotional overtime victory at home earlier this year.

"We had a good season overall. We wanted to go deeper in the tournament, we didn't play our best in the playoffs game, but overall it was a good season," she said

Filkins will be going to Catholic University in Wasington, D.C. in the fall. She said she always wanted to go away to school and the university gave her a good financial aid package, she liked the coaches and loved her visit.

"I could see myself fitting in with the team," she said

Off the court Filkins is a model student involved in a number of clubs and works three jobs to support herself.

"This award is really the culmination of my four years. It's a great way to end my career at Wareham," Filkins said. "I just try to make everyone proud"