Ella Smith Breaks All-Time Basketball Scoring Record

Smith entered the game needing seven points to tie the previous record and finished with 31 in the game, setting the new mark at 1,774 career points. She now holds the top-scoring spot across both the girls and boys programs at Berwick. 

The milestone came with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter, when Smith was two points away from history. She drove to the hoop from the top of the key and was fouled in the paint. At the free throw line for two shots, she tied the record on her first attempt, and the new mark was set on her second. A timeout was called, and Smith’s teammates embraced her at midcourt while the crowd rose to its feet to recognize the achievement.

“It was very fun to break the record on senior night in front of my family and on our home court,” said Ella Smith. “It means a lot to me. I have been on the team since the eighth grade, first starting out as a role player, but slowly gaining more and more confidence in myself, and my teammates have pushed me to be the player I am today.”

Head Coach Jonathan Smith, in his third season at the helm of the Bulldogs and also Ella’s father, reflected on the significance of this extra special accomplishment.

“What we witnessed wasn’t just a scoring record being broken, it was the result of countless hours of work in an empty gym when no one was watching,” he said. “Ella’s relentless work ethic and love for the game is what led her to this milestone, and I couldn’t be more proud of all that she has accomplished.”

This year, Smith has averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists per game, and was named a first team all-star at the Kingswood-Oxford Holiday Tournament. She has earned EIL All-League and All-NESPAC honors each of the last three seasons.   

The previous scoring record was set by boys basketball standout Harry Rafferty ’12 and stood for 14 years before being surpassed on Wednesday. Rafferty went on to spend a postgraduate year at Phillips Exeter, winning the school’s first-ever NEPSAC Class A title, before playing collegiately at Wesleyan University. He played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G-League in 2018-19 before spending five seasons (2019-2023) with the University of Michigan women’s basketball programs as graduate manager, assistant coach, and recruiting coordinator. He is currently in his first season as the head boys varsity basketball coach at Phillips Exeter.

Director of Athletics Rob Quinn noted that the milestone reflects both individual excellence and the strength of Berwick’s basketball tradition.

“Beyond the stat sheet, coaches and teammates point to Ella’s leadership, composure, and dedication as defining qualities of her career,” Quinn said. “Whether in practice, in the classroom, or in the closing minutes of a tight game, she has consistently embodied the values of Berwick Academy athletics.”

After graduation, Smith is still exploring her options. Whether that be pursuing a postgraduate opportunity or jumping right into collegiate athletics, she plans to continue her basketball career at the next level.

The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season on Wednesday against Pingree as Smith looks to continue to add to a record that may stand for years to come.