Morten joins sister in 1,000 point club

HARTINGTON — Move over Whoopi Goldberg, there is a way better Sister Act playing today.

That’s because the Morten girls – Abbe, Class of 2020, and Alivia, senior at Hartington-Newcastle, have something very special in common.

Besides a name and a love for basketball, they are both now members of the 1,000-point club at the school and are the last duo to do so in the school’s history.

Two sisters, back-to-back, side-by-side are now immortalized together.

“Nobody really gets that (1,000 points) … so to get that with her is really special to me,” Alivia said as she noted it’s been even better as the Lady Wildcats are having the best campaign during her four years. “Just knowing all the girls are putting in the work and this year we have been pushing it because we know how good we can be. It’s been special that we have been playing so good (11-9).”

When Alivia crossed the barrier on a free throw to wrap up an and-one in last week’s game against Wynot, she knew it was the point that sent her over the line.

“I drove to the hoop and made the point on that free throw,” she said. “I was kind of like, ‘Oh my God, this has to go in, just put it in.’ It felt really good to see all my family and friends cheering. They called the timeout so I was able to go and give my dad (assistant coach, Josh Morten) a hug.

“Abbe wasn’t there. She watched it online. She texted me afterwards. It made me happy to know she was watching it and she congratulated me and told me how proud she was of me. I was expecting a text because she usually texts me after every game.”

It will make for some good banter at future family reunions.

Abbe currently plays at Morningside University as a junior and Alivia is currently mulling a possible chance to join her sister or maybe go elsewhere if she decides to keep playing the sport once she puts her hand around her HNHS diploma in May.