Logan Phillips
Senior Editor
On Saturday, Feb. 19, junior Sarah Mannelly became the first woman in NCHS history to score 1,000 points. Sarah’s record-setting shot was a three-pointer in the third quarter of the FCIAC quarter-finals against the Danbury Hatters, giving the Rams a six-point lead. New Canaan ended up beating the Hatters 51-46 and advanced to the FCIAC semi-finals, where they lost 51-33 to the Ridgefield Tigers on Feb. 22.
For anyone who knows Sarah and her incredible work ethic, it was little surprise that her real focus was on the team instead of her milestone. “It’s a great feeling and one that I’ll remember but the priority is winning,” Sarah said, “So I’m not focusing as much on the 1,000 points as I am on the FCIAC championship.”
Sarah’s 1,000-point milestone tops off what has been an illustrious career and incredible season for the point guard. She leads all points guards in the FCIAC in every major category but rebounds. Amongst all players she is third in scoring, first in assists and first by over 34 in steals. However, what might be the most remarkable part of Sarah’s run has been the consistency and effort that has defined her career. Even as a freshman, Sarah averaged double digits in points and led her team to a 16-6 record. According to MaxPreps, a high school sports website affiliated with CBSsports.com, Sarah was also seventh in assists among all girls basketball freshmen in the country.
Sarah will surely take time to appreciate the achievement, as she certainly should. But if her 1,000-point milestone and career track record tells you anything, then you can be sure that on Thursday, March 3, when the Rams play at home against the RHAM Sachems from Hebron in the second round of the state playoffs, Sarah’s focus will not be on her record but on giving her team everything she has to get a W.
