Blair Watson is No. 1 scorer in Nutley HS basketball history

NUTLEY – Senior All-American guard Blair Watson became the all-time leading scorer in Nutley High School history for both boys and girls, after scoring 24 points to lead the Lady Raiders to a 45-41 over Fair Lawn on Monday, Feb. 8, at Fair Lawn.

Watson, who will play at the University of Maryland next year, needed just eight points to set the record. She now has 1,872 points. The previous record was held by 1988 graduate Marty Higgins, who is the Raiders’ all-time leading boys’ scorer with 1,855 points.

Watson became the NHS girls’ all-time leading scorer this season, breaking the old mark of 1,602 points by Kim DiVincenzo Root, a 1999 graduate. Watson set the record during the 59-43 home win over Newark Tech when she scored 27 points.

Twelve days later, Watson was selected to play in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game at the United Center in Chicago on March 30 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPNU.

In the win over Fair Lawn, Watson also had 13 rebounds, four assists, five blocks and three steals. Freshman guard Courtney Wilde had eight points and sophomore forward Sydney Kunz had seven points for the Raiders, who improved to a 12-4 record.

In earlier action, Watson scored a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and added 16 rebounds, seven assists, seven blocks, and four steals, but the Raiders lost at Montclair, 51-50, Feb. 2. Courtney Wilde scored 13 points and freshman guard Rebecca Granata had 11 for Nutley. Montclair outscored Nutley, 22-14, in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders regrouped with a 48-21 home win over Mount Saint Dominic Academy on Feb. 4. Watson had 28 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks, five steals and three assists. Granata had 15 points.

The Raiders, under fourth-year head coach Larry Mitschow, are the No. 5 seed in the Essex County Tournament and will begin play in the first round on Feb. 13 at home against either No. 12 seed Columbia or No. 21 seed Verona. Columbia was to host Verona in the second preliminary round on or by Feb. 11.

NHS also is the defending state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament champion. The seeding meeting for the North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament is Feb.11. The tournament begins Feb. 29. The Raiders last season won a sectional title for the first time since 1977, led by Watson.

As a sophomore, Watson led the Raiders to the North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 championship game, but the Raiders lost to West Morris.

Watson has played in all but one game this season, averaging 25.7 points per game. She has 386 points this season. She did not play in the 56-23 loss to Northern Valley/Demarest in the Westwood Holiday Tournament on Dec. 28 in the Raiders’ fourth game of the season.

Watson signed a National Letter of Intent with Maryland in November.