HUDSON- Back-to-back-to-back 1,000 point scorers are shattering Hudson High basketball records over the past three years.
This current season, senior Kristina Bruce hit 1,000 points at home against Quabbin. Weeks later she claimed the all time scoring record in the school’s history of 1,307 points, surpassing Jake Lowen who originally set it in 2013 with 1,278.
The season before that, Jake Attaway would reach 1,000 points with a similar setting in a home game against Tyngsborough, continuing to break Hudson High records.
As for the 2023-2024 season, Jackson O’Brien reached the difficult milestone, starting this 1,000 point trend against Northbridge in a home game. This was the first time that Hudson High had seen someone claim a spot on the banner since Tim Person in 2019.
Kristina Bruce 2025-2026
Bruce, unlike many basketball players, started her varsity career in eighth grade. She proved herself right from the jump and earned consistent playing time throughout the 2021-2022 season.
Bruce joined the 1,000 point club after a pass from eighth grader Keira Faherty who led her down low to the block. Bruce then powered through two defenders to score a layup. Following this, She was surrounded with cheers and jumping teammates as she buried her head in her hands, overwhelmed with the accomplishment.
Hitting this milestone was something Bruce dreamed of since her first year and with the encouragement of Coach Marty Murphy and Laura Bowen, she didn’t stop until it became her reality.
“It was everything. I’ve been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid,” Bruce said in a recent interview with the Community Advocate.
She gave much credit to her loved ones for supporting her throughout her high school career—helping her get to where she is now.
“I’m able to do it because of the great people around me — my mom, my family, my coaches, my teammates,” Bruce also told the Community Advocate.
After two years at Hudson High, she transferred to Concord Academy for her sophomore year. No matter where she played, Bruce was guided by a strong sense of belonging and the hope to pursue her dreams.
“If you put yourself in the right situations and you have the right people around you, everything will be OK,” Bruce said in a different interview for the Telegram & Gazette.
However, her smooth sailing basketball journey almost came to an end. Just 16 months before her big moment she suffered a broken pelvis, femur, hand injury, concussion, and many more from a terrible car accident. She spent six days in intensive care at Mass General Hospital.
“They weren’t sure when I was going to be able to walk or even be able to play basketball again,” Bruce said in an article for T&G.
Yet, that never stopped her. It broke her heart being told she might not play basketball again but she decided not to accept that fate. Murphy spoke on this in an interview with the Community Advocate.
“They always talk about the cliché of rising through adversity and making something of yourself. There’s an example of someone who rose above adversity and didn’t let that end things for her.”
Jake Attaway 2024-2025
2021 which would be freshman year for Attaway and his first time on varsity. He was originally set to be a swing player for the JV team but as he proved himself throughout the season, he eventually got to start.
Once he reached his senior year the whole school was supportive and certain that he would make history at Hudson once more before signing off.
It was a chilly January 31 night in 2025 when Attaway finally joined the 1,000 point club. To claim that spot he hit a fade away jumper right inside the free throw line, directly over the hands of a Tigers defender. The moment after was full of cheers. All spectators could be seen jumping and screaming for the new Mr. 1k.
Attaway gave immense credit to coach Mike Notaro Jr. and Dan Anderson for being in his corner all throughout his career.
“They were very supportive of me as a player on and off the court. They made me confident on the court to do what I can do to help the team,” said Attaway
However no journey comes without consequence. Junior year Attway sprained his ankle and feared he would miss the entire season which took a toll on him mentally.
“This was hard because of the mental aspect of it and thinking I wasn’t going to be able to finish the season with the group of seniors we had,” said Attaway
Attaway was given hope though; he was cleared for the last few games of the season and got to participate in O’Brien’s special night.
“We ended up having a pretty good year and almost upset the 10 seed that same year,” said Attaway.
He then carried his talent to Philips Exeter where he spent that past year playing for Coach Harry Rafferty. This was a challenge for him mainly because of the size of the private school kids compared to HHS.
“Even the guards would be big men at the league in Hudson,” said Attaway.
Despite this, Attaway pushed through and is very grateful for the team this past year.
“Over these years I improved so much as a basketball player due to the constant support I received from all my coaches,” said Attaway.
Jackson O’Brien 2023-2024
Similar to Attaway, freshman year was O’Brien’s first season on varsity and he was lucky enough to start a couple games. Even though his name wasn’t announced at the start of every game that year, O’Brien was still determined to make a difference.
And a difference he did make. By the time he got to his senior year, he was confident he would hit the milestone that was only a dream his freshman year.
On the night that he made history, Attaway threw a full court pass to O’Brien, who then soared in for an uncontested layup. The sound of the applause and celebration followed as he received a standing ovation from the bleachers.
O’Brien wanted to recognize the people who helped him get to where he was. He greatly credited his family and the part they played in his basketball career.
“The sacrifice and time they have spent on me will forever make me grateful to have them,” said O’Brien.
He also wanted to thank the program for giving him his teammates and coaches who were the ones he saw every day and supported him through everything.
“If you are around the right people there are no limits to what you can do,” O’Brien added.
However, his path did have a few potholes and bumps. O’Brien struggled with immense back pain which in his final year was very notable to his character.
“There were days during practice or after I would be limping or hobbling because the pain was unbearable,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien can now be found playing basketball for the club team at Stonehill College, competing all around Massachusetts. He carried the things he learned from HHS there with him.
“Basketball taught me just to be a leader in life. People love someone who is a leader and who has energy and is always able to be there for someone,” said O’Brien.
Overcoming the odds is something these three have made the Hudson High basketball program notorious for; and made making history seem, well, normal.
Bruce spoke on this in the article with the T&G.
“No matter what you go through, if you put your mind into something, you can do it.”
