McDonald Hits 1,000 as Indians Lay Down Law

Billy McDonald has forever etched his name in the record books as one of the premier scorers in North Haven basketball history.

The senior forward made that official on Feb. 20 by scoring his 1,000th career point and then some as the Indians concluded their regular season with a 74-46 victory at Law. With North Haven ahead just three points at halftime, Pete Civitello’s squad started the third quarter on a big run that led to its eventual blowout of the Lawmen, a run highlighted by McDonald blocking a shot and then going coast-to-coast for a lay-up that put him at 1,000. McDonald finished the game with 1,008 career points, joining Frank Suppa and John Ciulla as the only two boys’ basketball athletes to reach a grand in Indians’ history.

“It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders; everyone expected it from me, and once I got it, I was able to just focus on the game and our team goal of getting a championship,” Billy said. “I had a lot of family at the game and them and my teammates and coaches were all giving me high-fives and hugs and telling me to enjoy it; it’s not something that you get to relive.”

McDonald’s 19 points were complemented by 21 from fellow senior Dom Schioppo in a win that put North Haven’s regular-season record at 11-9 as Civitello’s team prepares for the Southern Connecticut Conference and state tournaments.

“Billy is the first 1,000-point scorer we’ve had in my time as head coach and it’s a well-deserved mark for him to reach and I’m glad he was able to enjoy it even more with a victory,” Coach Civitello said.

As if reaching 1,000 points wasn’t enough, McDonald also recently learned that he made the All-SCC Oronoque team, in addition to getting chosen to compete in the Connecticut Coaches’ All-Star Game. That contest will take place at Maloney on Thursday, March 21 and Civitello will coach the LL/L squad on which Billy will play.