Nutley HS girls’ basketball team defeats Shabazz in double overtime

NUTLEY – Senior McDonald’s All-American guard and University of Maryland-bound Blair Watson notched a triple double with 32 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists and also blocked seven shots to lead the Nutley High School girls’ varsity basketball team to a thrilling 62-56 double-overtime win over Newark Shabazz at home on Feb. 16 in a Super Essex Conference-American Division game.

Freshman guard Courtney Wilde also had 12 points; freshman forward Mackenzie Moraski had eight points; sophomore forward Sydney Kunz had six points and junior guard Jen Callaghan had four points for the Lady Raiders, who beat Shabazz for the first time in recent memory.

The Raiders outscored Shabazz, 11-8, in the fourth quarter to tie the score 48-48 and force overtime. Each team scored four points in the first overtime. Nutley outscored Shabazz, 10-4, in the second overtime.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday in the Essex County Tournament quarterfinals at Shabazz. Nutley is the fifth seed and Shabazz is the No. 4 seed.

Shabazz beat Nutley, 57-35, in the first meeting this season on Jan. 14.