Sports

VIDEO: Oliver Ames Girls' Basketball Standout Caitlyn Abela Scores 1,000th Career Point

Abela scored on her second basket of Wednesday's game against Medfield to earn a spot in the 1,000 point club.

Oliver Ames' Caitlyn Abela joined a prestigious club Wednesday night.

The senior girls' basketball captain became the latest OA player to join the 1,000 point club. With the accomplishment, her name will be added to a banner in the Nixon Gymnasium at Oliver Ames.

The milestone came midway through the second period of the Walpole Tournament Championship game against Medfield, which OA lost 61-55. Abela added 12 more points to finish the game with 16.

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"I’m really excited," she said. "A lot of the people on the banner are really great players, so it’s really awesome to be a part of that. I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates and coaches."

Abela was recognized at halftime and presented with balloons.

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"It was nice with the crowd and everyone cheering," she said. "It was a special moment. I’m really happy about it."

The senior forward, who signed a letter of intent to play at Sacred Heart earlier this year, has been an integral player for head coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook over the past four years.

Abela was a freshman when the Tigers won a state championship in 2010. That team was led by the last girls' basketball player to score 1,000 points - Lauren Battista.

"She’s been playing basketball since like the third grade, and so for my perspective, to love the game at that level and to be willing to work as hard as she’s worked, everything that comes to her she truly deserves," Clement-Holbrook said of Abela. "Plus, she’s a great kid. You can’t not love her. She’s a really great player, but she’s a wonderful person."

For more on the OA vs. Medfield game, click here.


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