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01/20/2018 11:00 PMKylie Schlottman cemented her name in the Yellowjackets’ history books last week when the senior captain broke the East Haven girls’ basketball team’s school record for points scored in a career. Scholottman scored 21 points when the Easties posted a 59-43 victory at Wilbur Cross 59-43 on Jan. 16 to break Sue Crisafi’s record of 1,418 points that had stood since 1980.
Schlottman now has 1,439 career points for East Haven, which improved to 12-1 with its wins against SCC Quinnipiac opponents Cross and Lauralton Hall last week. As of press time, Schlottman was only 16 points shy of becoming the all-time leading point scorer in the history of East Haven High School basketball. That record is held by former boys’ basketball player Josh Charbonneau with 1,454 career points.
“It was very exciting. It’s a really big accomplishment. Obviously, it doesn’t haven often since it’s been 38 years, but I’m really proud of myself, and happy I could do it with my teammates,” said Schlottman of breaking the record. “It’s amazing to think about and kind of hard to believe and imagine in my head. When I first came here, I didn’t think it was possible. I didn’t even know those records were here, so it’s pretty crazy.”
Schlottman, a 5-foot-11 forward, made six field goals and nine free throws in the victory against Wilbur Cross, breaking the school record on a free throw in the second quarter. After sinking the first of two at the line, Schlottman was shocked when the celebratory horn sounded, signifying that she had broken the record.
“I thought I needed to make both of them. They blew the horn, so I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’” Schlottman said. “It wasn’t expecting it there, but I’m not good at keeping track in my head.”
East Haven Head Coach Anthony Russell felt proud to see Schlottman break the record, but he also acknowledged Crisafi for an exceptional career that played a huge hand in bolstering female sports at the high school.
“Sue Crisafi was ahead of her time. I talked to her at length a few days ago, and I think it’s important the girls understand that history and realize that history. Women like her paved the way for women’s athletics and where it is now,” Russell said. “As much as it’s Kylie’s night, we have to recognize Sue. It’s a much larger thing for women’s athletics as a whole.”
In terms of the outcome, East Haven held a 32-27 halftime lead and then outscored Cross 27-16 in the second half on its way to the win. Coach Russell said his team started to settle down after Schlottman broke the record.
“I tried to tell them to play normal, as it’s very rare she wouldn’t get eight points [to break it],” Russell said. “Once she got it, I thought we kind of settled in, and I thought we hit some big shots where we created a little distance in that second quarter...We got out in transition and beat them up and down the floor. I thought we took care of the glass a little bit better, and I thought we hit some pretty good shots.”
Junior McKenzie Helms, who verbally committed to play Division I college basketball at the University of Nebraska, scored 14 points for the Yellowjackets in the Cross win. Isabella Ragaini and Jess Stettinger both had seven points, Alexis Pendizwater scored five, and Marley Herard added four points.
On Jan. 19, East Haven visited Lauralton Hall and left with a decisive 57-25 victory to improve to 5-0 in the Quinnipiac Division. East Haven played fantastic defense and never allowed the Crusaders to score more than eight points in a quarter. The Easties connected on nine three-pointers in the win with Helms and Pendziwater making three each. Helms led the way offensively with 19 points, while Ragaini scored 10, Pendziwater finished with nine points, and Schlottman had seven points for East Haven.
Sports Editor Chris Piccirillo contributed to this story.