When a timeout was called with 8:38 remaining in the second half of the Scituate girl’s quarterfinal playoff basketball game at RIC, not many people knew the significance of it. Not even Katie Birrell knew that her jumper put her into the 1000 point club.

Coach Angell said to Katie during the timeout, “You just scored your 1000th point.” Shocked and confused, all Katie said was, “Really?” Coach Angell stated that she never tells the players, because there is usually too much pressure, especially in a playoff game. “I was shocked because I didn’t even think I was close,” said Katie.



The accomplishment made Katie the first Scituate High School basketball player to score her 1000th point in her junior season. You had to figure she was going to get it eventually, but fans were surprised with it coming in her junior year.

Katie is now the second one in her family to join the 1000 point club, along with her brother Chris, who accomplished the feat in 2005. She becomes the sixth basketball player in Scituate history and the fifth girl to score 1000 points.

The night wasn’t over for Katie, as she won the game on a free throw with no time on the clock to send the Spartans to the semi-finals.

With another year for Katie to rack up points, she has a good chance to become the all time leading scorer for Scituate basketball. Ms. Angell, who has coached girls basketball for 36 years said, “she’s certainly one of the best, if not the best, players I have ever coached.”