Conard girls basketball hosted Farmington in West Hartford Friday night in a game that celebrated several milestones and alumni.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

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On a night when she was honored for becoming the all-time leading scorer in West Hartford Public School history, Emily Knowles nearly outscored Conard’s opponent all by herself. The senior went for 21 points in a 47-25 win over Farmington that moves the  Red Wolves to 8-1 on the season.

Knowles now has scored 1,502 points in her four seasons at Conard. She actually broke the previous record of 1,438 career points  in the team’s last home game on Dec. 28, but the ceremony was held on Friday night.

“Emily Knowles is a win/win person,” said her coach Laurie Cersosimo. “She’s not only a great player, but she’s also a great young woman. A lot of people see her score points, but there is so much more she does. She is the best all-around basketball player this team and  school has had.”

Knowles was presented with a game ball from the record-breaking game and was joined by several members of her family on the court.

Fittingly, Knowles opened the game’s scoring on the Red Wolves’ first possession when she drained a 3. Then it was time for her longtime teammate, friend, and co-captain Courtney McPhee to reach her own milestone. The point guard, who is an assist machine, hit a basket to give Conard a 5-0 lead, scoring career points 598 and 599. Just before the halfway point of the opening quarter, McPhee was fouled going in for a basket and proceeded to become just the 16th player in program history to reach 600 points.

“I am so happy for Courtney,” said Knowles, who has played alongside McPhee and fellow senior Nicole Gorman since the three were in middle school.

“600 feels good,” said McPhee, who was not even aware she was closing in on the milestone until former teammate Callie Cosgrove reminded her. It was the seventh time in 11 seasons Conard has had someone reach the milestone. From 1972-2002, only nine Conard players were able to cross the 600-point plateau.

“It was emotional to see her and Emily honored on the same night.” said Cersosimo. “It is an honor and we are fortunate to have these players.”

As for the game itself, things were tied up at 6 before Knowles hit a 3 at the buzzer to end the first. After that it was Conard relying in better shooting and rebounding and its high-pressure defense to take control. When McPhee hit a 3 with :52 to go in the half, the score was 20-8 for Conard. At intermission, Knowles led all scorers with 12 and McPhee had tossed in eight to account for all of the Red Wolves’ points.

The celebration at Conard continued during intermission when several members of past Conard girls basketball teams were honored at mid court on Alumni Day. Among those being celebrated was the 1978-79 squad. They were given the Lee Franzman Team Recognition Award that they will officially be receiving on April 27 from the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

“It means a lot to be in a program that so many people care about,” McPhee said of the school’s rich history. “It makes achieving (600 points) easier to achieve with so much support.”

With two minutes to play in the third quarter, McPhee hit a 3 to make it 27-10, and she and Knowles were still the only Red Wolves with points. That would change over the final 1:45 of the third when other players began finding their range. It would take 31:09 of game time until Farmington was able to equal Knowles’ then 20-point output in the game.

Both teams were able to substitute heavily late in the game and Cersosimo subbed McPhee and then Knowles out separately so they could receive their honors from teammates and fans. “To see a point guard get 600 points is incredible,” Cersosimo said of McPhee’s achievement. “Courtney is so deserving of this recognition.”

As for the dual honors on the night earned by her two players, Conard’s coach said she gave them a simple reminder. “I reminded them all that no one should take any of this for granted.”

The Red Wolves are back in action Tuesday when they travel to Bristol Eastern before coming home for a Friday matchup with E.O. Smith. Knowles is also closing in on another milestone as she nears second place on the all-time 3-point scorers list for Conard. Entering Friday’s game with Farmington, she needed 17 more “3-pointers” to pass Shelly Rodgers (122 from 2011-15) for second place on the all-time list.

West Hartford Public Schools Girls Basketball 1,000-point Scorers

• Emily Knowles (Conard)—1,502 (2025) through Jan. 10, 2025
• Azaiyah Felder (Conard) – 1,438 (2021)
• Sue Sebolt (Hall) – 1,255 (1983)
• Amber Raisner (Hall) – 1,246 (2018)
• Callie Cosgrove (Conard) – 1,223 (2024)
• Sara Binkhorst (Hall) – 1,112 (2011)
• Delaney Connors (Conard) – 1,020 (2018)

Courtney McPhee statistics:

• 2021-22, 129 points, 13 “3-pointers”
• 2022-23: 196 points, 22 “3-pointers”
• 2023-24: 199 points, 9 “3-pointers”
• 2024-25 (through Jan. 10): 88 points, 9 “3-pointers”
• Career: 612 points, 53 “3-pointers”

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