Two players on the girls basketball team at West Hartford’s Conard High School are closing-in on 1,000 points.

Emily Knowles goes up for a basket. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

One player hitting the 1,000-career point mark is a big deal in basketball. Two players potentially doing it in the same season is remarkable.

When both players are juniors it’s an even more amazing story but that’s what is about to happen for two members of the Conard Red Wolves girls basketball team. Teammates Emily Knowles and Callie Cosgrove should both hit the mark before the end of the month.

Knowles sits at 963 points after her 29-point effort on Saturday against Immaculate. Cosgrove has 936 after tossing in 24 in the same game – even after having missed the first six games this season. They currently sit at third and fourth in program history for points in a career behind Azaiyah Felder (2021) 1,438 points and Delaney Connors (2018) with 1,020 points.

The two have been a huge part of the Conard offense with Cosgrove leading the team last year in scoring averaging 18.2 points per game while Knowles was second with 17.6. It was a repeat of their performances in their freshman season when they were 1-2 in scoring.

Callie Cosgrove lets go with a 3-point try. Conard vs. Immaculate. Jan. 13, 2024. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Cosgrove loves to shoot the 3 using her fluid transition from receiving a pass to putting it up seemingly in a single motion. Last season she hit an unbelievable 66 3-pointers, and as a freshman she hit 41. Never afraid to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket, her outside shooting game is a real weapon for Coach Laurie Cersosimo’s team. In her Conard career to date she has hit 126 3-pointers.

“Her work ethic is incredible,” Cersosimo said of Cosgrove. “Her effort is to be the best for the team and is not about hitting 1,000 points.”

Knowles does it all for Conard – rebounding, handling the ball when necessary, hitting the 3, driving the hoop and taking the contact, and pulling up for the mid-range jumper. Knowles, like Cosgrove, is not flashy, but rather workmanlike in her approach, focused on helping her team succeed. “I’ve grown so much here and it’s because of this team,” Knowles said. “The only reason I’ll be fortunate enough to get 1,000 points is my teammates.”

Emily Knowles. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The attitudes of both players go a long way to understanding not only their individual success on the court, but also that of the team. Cersosimo preaches team over individual, group success over individual achievement, bonding, and support for each other over all else. “I am incredibly fortunate with this group,” Cersosimo said.

It is largely the same group that had a monster season one year ago racking up a record of 21-6 (second-most wins in a season after the 24-0 squad of 1978-79. They made it to the final of the CCC tournament, losing by 3, and then reaching the state Class LL quarterfinal before losing to eventual runner-up Fairfield-Ludlowe. During that run Cosgrove hit 66 3’s and chipped in a total of 489 points. Knowles dropped in 475 points on the season. In 2023, Cosgrove  scored the second most points in a single season in Conard history, Knowles scored the third-most.

Callie Cosgrove gets the shot off over Immaculate’s Kaitlyn Kenna. Conard vs. Immaculate. Jan. 13, 2024. Photo credit: Paul Palmer (we-ha.com file photo)

In school history, Cosgrove and Knowles are tops in CCC tournament stats, each with 95 points in just six games (15.8 ppg avg.)  Teammate Courtney McPhee, who is responsible for most of the assists for the two players, sits fourth on the all-time list. In state tournament games, Knowles is currently second in school history with 85 points in just four games – Cosgrove is eighth with 65 points. Last year Knowles went for 20 or more in four state tourney games. In the regular season, Knowles and Cosgrove have four of the top seven marks for most points in a single game – with Knowles being the all-time leader after putting up 38 in a game earlier this year.

From left: Emily Knowles, Courtney McPhee, and Callie Cosgrove were all named to the CCC-West All-Conference team in 2023. Conard vs. E.O. Smith. CCC Tournament semifinal. Feb. 21, 2023. Photo credit Paul Palmer (we-ha.com file photo)

When asked about her dynamic duo, Cersosimo first speaks about her pride in all her players and how hard they work and support each other. As for each of her juniors approaching 1,000 points, the bottom line is hard work and dedication. She said Knowles still doesn’t realize just how dangerous she can be.

As for Cosgrove it is the work ethic that just won’t quit. You don’t get to this point in a career without confidence, and both Knowles and Cosgrove have an understated confidence in their abilities. “I feel like I’ve proved it to myself that I can keep taking shots.” Cosgrove has a similar feeling. “It’s about confidence and I have put in the hours shooting.”

Conard has nine regular season games remaining – five at home – before a likely trip to the CCC and Class LL tournaments.

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