By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir of New Leadership School in Springfield now has scored more points than any player – boy or girl – in Massachusetts high school history. Scoring 28 points in a 51-35 loss to Springfield Commerce, the 5-foot-3 senior guard surpassed the former record total of 2,710 set in 1991 by Rebecca Lobo, who starred at Southwick before amassing more honors for the University of Connecticut, the United States Olympic team and WNBA.
Abdul-Qaadir, who has committed to the University of Memphis and is averaging a state-best 43 points per game, now has 2,736 career points. She set the record by making a free throw with 5:27 left in the half.
McDonald's All-American nominees announced
Several Massachusetts boys and girls seniors have been nominated for the McDonald's All-American Basketball Games to be played on April 1 at the Bank United Center in Miami. From the 2,500 nominees, 24 girls and 24 boys will be chosen for their respective East or West squads.
Boys nominees are Kevin Barr, Cushing Academy; Austin Carroll and Ben Crenca, Worcester Academy; Kyle Casey, Brimmer and May School; Darryl Cato-Bishop, Lawrence Academy; Mike Clifford, Bishop Fenwick; Tucker Halpern, Noble and Greenough; Greg Jacques, St. Sebastian; Erik Murphy and Dave Johnson, St. Mark's School; Matt LaBove, St. John's (Shrewsbury); Mike Marra, Northfield Mount Hermon; Adam Marshall, The Governor's Academy; Dan O'Keefe, Lexington; Kevin Polanco, Andover; Cory Stockmal and Kyle Stockmal, Watertown; Hanell Velez, Woburn; Allen Willamson, Pingree School.
Also nominated for the boys team are Massachusetts natives Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs of the Tilton School (N.H.), both University of Connecticut signees.
Girls nominees include Courtney Finn, Winthrop; Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, New Leadership; Caleigh Crowell, Worcester Academy; Amy Lepley, Bishop Feehan; Mariah Wynn, Newton North; Jackie Lyons, Reading; Mary Nwachukwu, Dighton-Rehoboth; Emily Trapp, Whitman-Hanson; Amber Smith, Ipswich; Reilly Poirier, Cardinal Spellman; Meredith Soper, Arlington Catholic; Whitney Wilson and Brianna Wilson, Lowell; Kirsten Daamen, Pentucket and Alannah Driscoll-Sbar, Northampton.
Boys Basketball News & Notes
* Hingham won its 11th straight game and snapped the 15-game win streak of previously unbeaten Duxbury in a 78-76 overtime road win in Patriot League action. Hingham, in second place in the league, was paced by C.J. Taylor who had 28 points, K.C. Murphy with 23 and Kevin Lally with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Green Dragons guard Mark Brust tied for game-high honors with 28 points.
* Louis Montes scored 16 points and Tim Young chipped in with 14 as undefeated Brockton outscored Newton North 27-7 in the fourth quarter on its way to an 81-60 conquest. Newton North center Greg Kelley had a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds.
* Billy Marsden scored 26 points for Central Catholic in a 50-43 win over Lowell. Carson Desrosiers scored eight points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Nathan Simpson had 12 points and 12 rebounds and five blocked shots for Lowell.
* David Miller scored 17 of his game-high 19 points as visiting Lexington pulled away from Watertown in the final minute to post a 65-57 victory and take over first place in a matchup of the Middlesex League's best teams. Kyle Stockmal had 15 for the Raiders.
* Doherty sprung a 74-64 upset win over Tantasqua behind 27 points by Yawin Smallwood and 20 by John Genkos. Jake Gubitose led Tantasqua with 19 points.
Barry Finneron records 500th career victory.
* Guard Anh-Dao Tran had a game-high 29 points and Haley Rafferty chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds for Holy Name in a 76-57 win over Doherty, giving head coach Barry Finneron his 500th career victory.
