Senior Becomes Third Hawk To Reach Milestone

By Andy Hutchison

She thinks “pass” before “shoot,” often dishes no-look setups to teammates, and runs the offense for Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team. Oh, and she can score, too.

NHS senior Riley Wurtz sank her 1,000th career point in a 73-31 win over visiting Bunnell of Stratford on January 6, becoming only the third player in the program’s history to reach the plateau. Wurtz joins Lynn Lattanzio and Kelley Haines, the latter of whom is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,274, Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell said.

Wurtz exploded for a 30-point effort in just three quarters against Bunnell, reaching the milestone with a bucket that accounted for her 13th and 14th points of the quarter alone. Wurtz, who generally scores in the high teens or low 20s, was surprised she compiled 30 in a single game — never mind three quarters. “I didn’t think it would ever happen,” she said.

She also didn’t see joining the 1,000-point club as being a likely scenario. “I never thought it would happen, but it’s awesome and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates,” Wurtz said.

O’Connell is thrilled for his team leader and point guard, whom he points out leads the way with a great deal of poise and quietness.

“The way she does it with such humility — and she’s so humble with everything she does — makes it even that much more special,” O’Connell said.

“When we need a big bucket or a pass, she is our leader in that respect. Basketball-wise, she is the one that pretty much makes our engine go,” he added.

O’Connell said he has been coaching for 16 years and has never had a player reach 1,000 points — although some have come close. Now, Wurtz is chasing after the all-time scoring mark at Newtown High. She moved 22 points closer in a 68-29 win over visiting Immaculate of Danbury on January 10. O’Connell believes that if the team (9-1) keeps playing as it has, and continues to win, Wurtz has a shot at setting the record.