BY JOE PALLADINO
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

UNCASVILLE — Remember Felice Solla? He is the city basketball fan and Crosby High fanatic who suffered a heart attack and lived to tell about it during the Naugatuck Valley League boys semifinal between the Bulldogs and Sacred Heart three weeks ago.

Solla had surgery, quit smoking and walked around with a heart monitor for a few days. But the man they call “Flea” is back watching high school hoops. He had quite a weekend planned and intended to see all — or almost all — of the boys and girls championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Solla planned to watch five games Saturday and three more today.

“I love high school basketball,” he said.

However, Felice and his brother, Tony, were absent for game one on Saturday, the Class S girls title game that featured Thomaston.

“I woke up late,” Felice said when he finally arived.

Well, it was a 10 a.m. game.

Local authority: The Class S boys basketball final Saturday afternoon between Westbrook and Trinity Catholic featured some local flair in stripes.

The officiating crew was composed of local referees Art Hamm, Charley Harbach and Bob Ferrarotti. Chris Bunel was the alternate.

No. 6-seeded Trinity Catholic upended top-seeded Westbrook, 61-52, to win the Class S title. Trinity rallied past Waterbury Career Academy, 67-60, in Thursday’s semifinals.

On the air: Waterbury radio station WATR, that’s 1320 on your AM dial, will broadcast both city games from the Sun today, the 3 p.m. Class L girls game between Holy Cross and Daniel Hand, followed by the 5:30 p.m. tip between the Sacred Heart boys and Notre Dame of Fairfield in the L boys final.

The man with the call for game one is Allie Vestro, while Bob Sagendorf has the call for game two.

Radio broadcast rights for a single game cost $200, and Sagendorf said the station was scrambling for sponsors when, just a few days ago, a total of five city teams were still alive for a place in the Sun. The station would have found a way to broadcast them all, Sagendorf said, despite the hefty price tag.

BY JOE PALLADINO

This is the moment when, with tears dried and cheers done, we bring perspective to what we have seen. Anyone have ideas?

This was too amazing to summarize in a few paragraphs. Rather than try, let’s use one word: Wow.

In a city accustomed to great basketball, the season of 2016-17 may have been the best of them all. It offered an endless run of close games, topped by the triple-overtime classic between Crosby and Waterbury Career that may be one of those remarkable games we’ve seen within these borders.

The topper of them all was, of course, the Sacred Heart boys and their fourth straight state title. That alone was a terrific story, even without the subplot that appeared along the way. In a state tourney ride for the ages, the Hearts got back to the Arena and won the Class L title while their best player, Raheem Solomon, hobbled around the arena on crutches following knee surgery 16 days before.

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The Hearts didn’t just win the Class L title, they owned it, for all but a few minutes of playing time. It was a tougher trip, with tighter games, and perhaps more fulfilling and satisfying for players and coaches.

When asked to put this season and title into perspective, Hearts coach Jon Carroll said simply, “I can’t. I can’t.”

Now I don’t feel so bad.

Senior Courie Stevenson, who has fingerprints on each one of the four championship trophies now in a case on South Elm Street, got close to the mark.

“I was blessed to come in freshman year and be part of a good team,” Stevenson said. “In sophomore year, I kind of went with the flow. Last year, I contributed a lot. And for this one to be mine, with my brothers, it actually means a lot. I am holding back the tears.”

We prodded Stevenson a bit more because he was clearly in a groove. He delivered the words we will not soon forget.

“It feels like eating a cheeseburger,” Stevenson said.

A media member followed up with this question: What kind of cheeseburger?

Stevenson met the challenge: “The best one in the world.”

Other title streaks

The Hearts are not the first boys team to win four straight state titles. Hillhouse was the first to do it, from 1945 to 1948. Wilbur Cross matched the run from 1958 to 1961. The Hearts have now won four, from 2014 to 2017.

There are two others, and both are five straight: Cromwell, from 1967 to 1971, and Harding, from 1983 to 1987.

Not just the Hearts

This was a season of shared drama and accomplishment. Yes, Hearts earned the headline, but check out all the area teams:

• Finals: Sacred Heart boys, Thomaston girls, Holy Cross girls.
• Semifinals: Kennedy boys, Holy Cross boys, WCA boys, Pomperaug girls, Sacred Heart girls, Housatonic Valley girls.
• Quarterfinals: Crosby boys, Seymour boys. St. Paul boys and girls.

We had three teams play in a state final, and six others just one game away and, in some cases, a few minutes away.

And those Thomaston girls, five straight times to the Sun. Really. Five.

That boggles the already boggled brain.

The poll

A great many people place great emphasis on the final results of the state basketball poll. It is good to remember that the poll has no value, and signifies nothing. It isn’t even mythical. Don’t worry about it.

Hillhouse will be season-ending No. 1, I predict anyway. It is a fanciful vote. Do not get riled up if the Hearts finish No. 2. Hillhouse is the “LL” champ, and the Hearts the “L” champ. End of story.

Big win, best quote

The Class L girls championship trophy went to Daniel Hand, not Holy Cross. Hand earned it. The Tigers put in a sensational second half to beat the Crusaders on Sunday.

While Cross fell short in the final, remember this: The biggest girls basketball victory this season did not take place at Mohegan Sun Arena, but rather t Sheehan High, and it belonged to the Crusaders ith their semifinal stunner over Capital Prep, the high school version of the UConn women.

That Cross win led to the season’s best quote, from Prep coach Tammy Milsap. After her team fell to the Crusaders, Milsap told the Rep-Am’s Rick Wilson, “It was not in God’s plan.”

I am not a theologian, but I don’t believe for a moment that a Supreme Being is picking winners in scholastic tournaments. In fact, I’ll bet His NCAA tourney bracket is now as tattered as yours.

Allie says so

Few area sports fans or media members have witnessed as much of this city’s sports history as WATR broadcaster Allie Vestro. He was part of it as a player, and behind the microphone for decades. Here is what Allie said about what he saw this past weekend at the Sun:

“We in the media are privileged to be part of some extraordinary experiences. This weekend was one of those experiences that I will never forget. When something is expected, like the Hearts’ years with Heron, Flowers, Fisher, and Riddick, you just kind of go along with it. But this year was totally unexpected, at least by this announcer, and it made this whole year and this tournament that much more of a special treat.

“Congratulations to Jon Carroll and his coaching staff for a job very well done. I especially liked Jon’s comment about eleven of his fourteen players being on the honor role. Another great memory to put into my memory bank of watching and broadcasting high school basketball in Waterbury for the last 59 years.”

Little Allie, it was who found the proper words for us.

Class LL

Haley Conley, NFA

Caroline Curnal, Ridgefield

McKenna Dale, EO Smith

Alexa Kellner, Stamford

Jada Lucas, New London

India Pagan, New London

Daja Polk, Fairfield Warde

Claudia Tucci, Trumbull

Class L

Adrienne DiGioia, Branford

Gabby Martin, Hand

Idalis Miranda, Holy Cross

Lizahya Morgan, Capital Prep

Karli Opalka, Pomperaug

Brie Pergola, Torrington

Angelique Rodriguez, Capital Prep

Mary Schoenherr, Farmington

Class M

Nikki Bitinaitis, Cromwell

Mia Brennan, Waterford

Caitlyn Dittman, St. Bernard

Gabrielle Joseph, Notre Dame Catholic-Fairfield

Jocelyn Luizzi, Bacon Academy

Kristen Teklits, New Fairfield

Mckenzie Rusczyk, Suffield

Kylie Schlottman, East Haven

Class S

Emily Briggs, Canton
Casey Carangelo, Thomaston

Loren D’Agostino, East Windsor

Kathryn Konow, Lyman Memorial

Savannah Marshall, Westbrook

Julia Quinn, Thomaston

Gyanna Russell, East Hampton

Raelynn Voislow, Windsor Locks

By JOE PALLADINO
Republican-American
The Hoop Zone awards are here. After four months of incredible basketball and championship runs, two players emerged as without-a-doubt player of the year selections, and a third merits mention for a memorable postseason performance.
For the girls, Casey Carangelo helped lead Thomaston High to another Berkshire League championship, another BL tournament title and a fifth consecutive trip to the Mohegan Sun Arena for the Class S final.
We vividly recall Carangelo’s star turn as a freshman in the Class S championship game against St. Paul back in 2014, when, in a 61-57 triple overtime victory, she scored 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field with nine rebounds. Carangelo’s career ends as a four-time BL hoop champ, two-time state champ and the school’s all-time leading scorer for girls with 1,590 points.
Thomaston’s Casey Carangelo, our pick as the Hoop Zone Player of the Year for girls.
The boys selection is no less a no-brainer. Crosby’s Jeremiah Kendall led the Naugatuck Valley League in scoring with a 28.2 ppg. average. He added 14 rebounds and finished with 1,271 career points.
Kendall arrived from the Bronx, N.Y., for his sophomore year. That first season, he began as the seventh player in the Bulldogs’ rotation, and averaged 8.9 points and 10 rebounds. This season, Kendall was immense beyond measure. He scored 40 or more points seven times, including 42 against Hartford Public and 40 against Bassick in the Class L tournament.
City hoop fans will never forget the best game of the 2016-17 season, Crosby’s 125-123 triple-OT win over Waterbury Career. Kendall scored a career-high 49 points and grabbed 24 rebounds.

And there was that miracle miss from the free-throw line, when he missed a foul shot on purpose, got his own rebound and scored at the buzzer to force the third OT.
You had to see it to believe it.
Also, Kendall was the MVP in this year’s Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star game.
Crosby’s Jeremiah Kendall, our pick as the Hoop Zone Player of the Year for boys.
Kendall and Carangelo play one last time, this Sunday in the 56th JCC School Boy/Girl Classic at Cardinal Sheehan Center in Bridgeport. The 1 p.m. girls East-West All-Star game also features Torrington’s Brie Pergola and Seymour’s Faith Thurmond. Thomaston’s Bob McMahon will coach the East squad.
The boys game tips at 3 p.m. with the Connecticut All-Stars against New Jersey. Kendall is the only local in the lineup, and Crosby’s Nick Augelli will coach Connecticut. Admission for two games is $10.
Lastly, we have no award for this, but it deserves mention: Sacred Heart senior Legend Johnson delivered a postseason performance for the ages.
It is no secret that the Hearts’ run to a fourth straight state title was all the more remarkable following the pre-tournament injury to leading scorer Raheem Solomon.
All players stepped up their game, but none more so than Johnson. He averaged 8 ppg. during the regular season and was selected as the John Gilmore Award winner as the city’s top defensive player. But Johnson then went above and beyond. In eight postseason games that included the NVL tournament, Johnson averaged 15.4 ppg., second on the team behind Isaiah Gaiter (17.5).
But here are the numbers that boggle brains: Johnson was 34-of-43 from the field on two-point attempts. That’s 79-percent shooting. Johnson was 11-of-16 on 3-pointers. That’s 69 percent, Larry Bird-like numbers. Add in 5.6 rebounds and two steals per game, and we may have seen the best clutch basketball ever.
There it is. That’s a wrap. We hope you enjoyed it. To be continued in December.
Send comments to jpalladino@rep-am.com, and follow on Twitter @RAOffTheRecord.

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Kennedy High basketball player Raegon-Shirling Davis recently signed a letter of intent to play women’s basketball at Albertus Magnus next season.

By STEVE BARLOW

For nearly 40 seasons, Fred Williams has sat on his haunches along the sidelines at Northwestern High on his way to coaching immortality in Connecticut.

With Saturday afternoon’s 59-34 win at Shepaug, Williams, 65, became only the third girls basketball coach in state history to achieve 600 career victories.

His record of 600-292 trails only Dave Strong (704 victories at Masuk) and Nick Economopoulos (619 at Lyman Hall, East Catholic, Coginchaug) on the Connecticut list.

His teams have won 10 Berkshire League titles, including eight in a row from 1987-94, and 141 straight BL games during that span. Northwestern also won the 1990 Class M state title.

The Sunday Republican asked some former and current rivals for their thoughts about coaching against him:

Paul Ebbs, Thomaston
“I always thought it was funny that in eight years (1987-94) I only won three times, but that was the best anybody did against Fred. He had all of our numbers. He’s an excellent coach and a great guy. Nobody held it against him. Jealous of him? Yes, because of all the wins he had, but nobody held it against him.”

“We beat them in the (BL tournament in 1993) and that ended the streak. It gave my kids confidence, knowing how good Northwestern was, and that was the year we went on to win the Class S title.”

Ken Gladding, Wamogo
“That 1-2-2 matchup zone defense of his gave me fits. I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out. He said to me one time, ‘When you retire and I retire, I’ll tell you all about it.’”

“Fred is the Geno of the Berkshire League. He can take average talent and make it into a good team. There were years when he had talent — (Beth) Finn, (Tricia) Blood, (Christine) Wallace. He did have talent, but he’s in every game, it seems. They’re always fundamentally sound because he’s a great fundamentals teacher.”

Al Ciarlo, Shepaug, Lewis Mills
“One year, we went to Housatonic for the Berkshire League tournament. I held the ball the whole time. The halftime score was 9-1. (My assistant) said, ‘We don’t even have a basket.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but they only have nine points and they average 60.’ But Fred was patient. Christine Wallace got a couple of three-point plays in the second half and they won it.”

Bob Anzelotti, Litchfield
“His teams were always ready to play, and his games were always so tough, especially on their home court. You always had to have your team ready to play against him.”

Tom Morgan, Nonnewaug, Terryville
“He has had good players, but not an unfair amount of good players. But they play better defense. That’s the constant with Northwestern: defense, defense, defense. Nobody has come close to holding us to 30 points as many times as they have.”

Gerry Hicks, Gilbert
“From my girls, they always say he brings out the best in his players. That’s my girls talking. He always has a good word for the girls on the other team. He’s interested in them and what they’re doing.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Rose Kelly scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and Cassidy Wilson chipped in with seven points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wamogo High girls basketball team to a 35-30 nonleague win over New Fairfield in Litchfield on Saturday. Wamogo is 4-1.

Addie Hester scored 20 points and Emma Propfe added 11 as undefeated Northwestern topped Shepaug, 59-34, in Washington, Conn., to give coach Fred Williams the 600th win of his career. The Highlanders are 6-0. Treasure Coleman had a team-high 14 points and Hayley Tucker chipped in with nine rebounds to lead Sacred Heart to a 50-22 nonleague win over Kaynor Tech at Alumni Hall. Aamya Rivera added 11 points for the Hearts (5-1).
In Falls Village, Olivia Forstmann scored a game-high 14 points for Housatonic, but Immaculate topped the Mountaineers, 44-30, in a nonleague matchup.
Hannah Maghini scored 21 points with eight rebounds to lead Bristol Eastern to 59-51 win over Wethersfield. Jordan Ouellette added 12 points with 12 rebounds for the Lancers (3-3) and Avery Arbuckle chipped in with seven rebounds.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Mike Basile had 18 points to lead Immaculate to a 57-54 win over Torrington in a nonleague game in Danbury. Chris Jimenez had a team-high 11 points for Torrington while Richy Rodriguez and and Adrian Gonzalez each had 10.
Kyle Alvarez had a team-high 13 points, while Jackson Lord and Josh Schibi each had 12 in Lewis Mills’ 45-43 defeat at Canton.
Michael Pierce scored 26 points, making four 3-pointers, for Housatonic in an 87-69 loss to Monument Mountain in Great Barrington, Mass.
Nate Silva scored a team-high 16 points in Bristol Eastern’s 57-50 win over visiting Platt of Meriden.

ICE HOCKEY
Troy Harwell had a goal and an assist and Ryan Fleming had 44 saves in goal as Watertown-Pomperaug downed North Branford, 2-0, at Taft School. Eli Rosen scored the other goal for the Indians (4-0-1).

NORTHWESTERN 59, SHEPAUG 34
Northwestern (6-0): Frankie DeSanti 1 0 2, Sydney Sanden 1 0 2, Skylar Dimartino 1 0 2, Emma Propfe 5 1 11, Addie Hester 10 0 20, Mdison Hall 0 0 0, Jana Sanden 0 0 0, Morgan Daley 4 0 8, Natalie Lederman 3 4 10, Gina Weingart 1 2 4. Totals: 26 7 59.
Shepaug (3-3): Eilish Crossley 1 0 2, , Olivia Moore 1 2 4 , Brooke Donaghey 1 0 3, Rachel Andrews 1 0 2, Lucy Puskas 5 0 11, Haylie Lasky 0 2 2, Avery Serra 3 2 9, Abby Harty 0 1 1. Totals: 12 7 34.
Northwestern 13 10 12 24— 59
Shepaug 8 7 10 9 — 34
3-point goals: S — Donaghey 1, Puskas 1, Serra 1.

WAMOGO 35, NEW FAIRFIELD 30
New Fairfield: Sydney O’Connor 2 0 5, Allison Teklits 3 0 7, Grace Ware 0 0 0, Kerrigan Quinn 3 6 12, Lauren Carter 1 0 3, Danielle Hernandez 0 0 0, Abby Flanagan 1 1 3, Emma Lynden 0 0 0, Morgan Begley 0 0 0. Totals: 10 7 30.
Wamogo (4-1): Emily Carlson 1 0 2, Cassidy Wilsdon 3 1 7, Justine Lago 0 1 1, Morgan Betti 1 1 3, Marissa Church 0 0 0, Samantha Sylvester 2 1 5, Casey Bovat 0 0 0, Rose Kelly 5 7 17. Totals: 12 11 35.
New Fairfield 3 7 7 13 — 30
Wamogo 10 8 3 14 — 35
3-point goals: NF — Sydney O’Connor 1, Allison Teklits 1, Lauren Carter 1.
Of note: Kelly and Wilson had 10 rebounds each for Wamogo.

SACRED HEART 50, KAYNOR TECH 22
Kaynor Tech (2-6): Haley Romaniello 2 0 4, Danielle Salvati 0 0 0, Sarah Wisniewski 4 1 9, Maggie DeSantis 2 1 5, Toyin Bilewu 1 0 2, Nicole Morris 0 0 0, Se’Raya Steward 1 0 2, Julia Mongelluzzo 0 0 0, Brianna Isaacs 0 0 0, Bernie Hernandez 0 0 0. Totals: 10 2 22.
Sacred Heart (5-1): Aamya Rivera 5 0 11, Adalena Francis 1 0 3, Jenna Madigan 1 0 2, Treasure Coleman 6 1 14, Hayley Tucker 3 1 7, Mikayla Mobley 1 1 3, Trista Caron 0 0 0, Katie Brown 2 0 4, Kayleigh O’Donnell 2 0 4, Savannah Diogostine 1 0 2. Totals: 22 3 50
Kaynor Tech 12 6 1 3 — 22
Sacred Heart 13 13 9 15 — 50
3-point goals: SH — Rivera 1, Francis 1, Coleman 1.
Of note: Tucker had 9 rebounds for Sacred Heart.

BRISTOL EASTERN 59, WETHERSFIELD 51
Wethersfield (3-3): Zoe Adams 4 2 12, Isabella Samse 3 1 8, Alice Kelly 2 2 8, Nicole Gwinn 7 4 18, Gabriella Amoddio 1 2 5. Totals: 17 11 51
Bristol Eastern (3-3): Paige McLaughlin 4 4 12, Miranda Janick 5 0 11, Meredith Foreman 0 0 0, Hannah Maghini 5 9 21, Cheyenne Sargent 1 0 2, Jordan Ouellette 4 4 12, Avery Arbuckle 1 1 3, Karly Martin 0 0 0, Amaya Massari 0 0 0, Chenne Sargent 0 0 0, Sage Scarritt 0 0 0, Maura McGuire 0 0 0, Cassie Doyon 0 0 0. Totals: 19 18 59.
Wethersfield 17 2 18 14 — 51
Eastern 15 20 9 15 — 59
3-point goals: W — Kelly 2, Adams 2, Samse 1, Amoddio 1; BE — Janick 1, Maghini 2.

IMMACULATE 44, HOUSATONIC 30
Immaculate (3-2): Casey Peralta 0 0 0, Caroline Wax 2 3 8, Megan Coyle 2 0 4, Sam Mulvey 0 0 0, Marcella Dailey 2 6 11, Mackenzie Orurke 2 2 6, Kingsley Jarbo 2 2 6, Megan Schlichtig 3 1 9, Olivia Kent 0 0 0. Totals: 13 14 44
Housatonic (3-3): Anna Coon 0 0 0, Caroline Hurlbut 2 0 4, Sierra O’Niel 1 0 2, Alison Holmes 1 0 2, Emily Geyselaers 3 2 8, Christina Winburn 0 0 0, Madelynn Olownia 0 0 0, Olivia Forstmann 5 4 14, Ella Segalla 0 0 0. Totals: 12 6 40.
Immaculate 12 7 14 11 — 44
Housatonic 11 7 6 6 — 30
3-point goals: I — Dailey 1, Schlichtig 2, Wax 1.

WCA 57, DERBY 44
WCA (3-3): Janelle Goodman 1 0 2, Shyra Fisher 4 0 8, Taylor Dunn 1 0 2, Leila Lazaro 2 1 5, Alexus Lee 0 0 0, Michalyn Vaichus 5 0 10, Armani Weaver 9 8 28, Kendra McPherson 1 0 2. Totals: 23 9 57.
Derby (2-4): Aryssel Flores 6 3 17, Cristina Carloni 1 1 3, Madison Koval 3 1 7, Kiara Swilling 3 0 8, Isabelle Chevarella 1 0 2, Lucy Lane 2 0 5, Devina Lopez 1 0 2. Totals: 17 5 44.
WCA 14 15 17 11—57
Derby 15 8 6 15—44
3-point goals: W—Weaver 2; D—Flores 2, Swilling 2, Lane 1.

ND-FAIRFIELD 66, POMPERAUG 58
Notre Dame-Fairfield (3-2): Yamani McCollough 10 7 30, Erin Harris 3 2 9, Aliyah Louis 0 0 0, Krystalee Fernandez 0 0 0, Ciara Brown 3 0 6, Gabrielle Joseph 9 1 19, Britt Fulton 0 0 0, Zuquila Mbachiantim 0 2 2. Totals: 25 12 66.
Pomperaug (5-1): Karli Opalka 8 2 18, Megan Todhunter 3 0 7, Maggie Lee 1 1 4, Allison McCormick 5 0 14, Kelly Powers 0 0 0, Claudine Legato 4 2 11, Molly Flanagan 0 0 0, Maddie Villa 2 0 4, Lindsay Oulette 0 0 0. Totals: 23 5 58.
Notre-Dame Fairfield 26 11 12 17—66
Pomperaug 8 11 12 27—58
3-point goals: N—McCullough 3, Harris 1; P—McCormick 4, Todhunter 1, Legato 1, Lee 1.

JONATHAN LAW 49, CHESHIRE 36
Cheshire (2-5): Sara Mulligan 2 0 6, Emily Yonych 1 1 3, Ariana Perlini 2 0 4, Mia Juodaitis 9 3 21, Julia Schaff 0 2 2. Totals: 14 6 36.
Jonathan Law (7-0): Cali Jolley 1 3 5, Samara Thacker 3 2 8, Pam Ellison 1 2 4, Fallon Andriolas 7 5 21, Colleen Goodwin 3 1 7, Erica Brown 1 2 4. Totals: 16 15 49.
Cheshire 5 11 10 10—36
Jonathan Law 9 11 13 16—49
3-point goals: C—Mulligan 2; J—Andriolas 2.

BRISTOL EASTERN 48,
FARMINGTON 46
Farmington (7-0): Carolyn Ives 3 0 7, Chardae Saunders 2 3 7, Isabelle Lipinski 8 2 18, Amanda Rodriques 2 1 5, Rylee Fountain 0 0 0, Molly McGuigan 2 0 4, Emma Novajaski 3 0 7. Totals: 20 6 48.
Bristol Eastern (3-4): Paige McLaughlin 4 4 12, Miranda Janick 6 2 15, Hannah Maghini 2 2 7, Jordan Ouellette 4 0 8, Avery Arbuckle 1 0 2, Sage Scarritt 1 0 2. Totals: 18 8 46.
Farmington 12 9 13 14—48
Bristol Eastern 8 13 14 11—46
3-point goals: F—Ives 1, Novajaski 1; B—Janick 1, Maghini 1.

BY ROGER CLEAVELAND
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WATERBURY — It was the type of game you would expect out of dominant program like Holy Cross with the Crusaders seeking the 500th career victory for their coach Frank Lombardo.
The Crusaders’ active, aggressive defense held the Hearts to 14 first-half points and the Holy Cross frontcourt duo of Meah Austin and Aiyana Ward combined for 39 points and 36 rebounds en route to a 60-49 home victory.
“It means a whole lot,” Lombardo said. “I told the girls after the game that we knew were going to get to 500 at sometime this year, and dioing it today in our gym was special. But it gave me a chance to refelct on the last 24 years, and it is a lot of wins that all the girls that came through the program helped make the foundation for where we are today. I got a lot of texts and phne calls from a lot of frmer players, and it is because of them that we experienced the success that we have had so long.”
The reason behind Wednesday night’s success was easy to pinpoint. The Hearts had no answer for Austin and Ward. Austin finished with a game-high 21 points and 21 rebounds while Ward contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds.
“In the game I would say she is like my twin,” Austin said. “If I am open, she gets me the ball. If she has the ball or she is hot, I am like, ‘Yeah she is hot.’ That is just how it is and how it has been. We have to support each other. I think the unselfish bond we have is really good, and it helps us build energy for the team. We all feed off it. Us being down low together works really well, and we just play our game.”
Austin had 12 first-half points as the Crusaders led, 27-14, at intermission with Aamya Rivera getting nine of her 16 points for the Hearts in the first quarter. Once Sacred Heart picked up its pace in the second half behind Treasure Coleman (19 points), Ward really picked up her game to make sure the Hearts could get no closer than nine points.
“We kind of can see when the players on the other team are trying to shut Meah down so it becomes easier for me to get my shot going,” said Ward, who scored 14 second-half points. “Once I get it giong it is kind of hard for me to stop. I think it just becomes me feeling it out at first. It is never me vs. her, it is me and her.”
Austin and Ward said that what made Wednesday’s game special wasn’t their own performances, but the fact that it was a win over their archrivals that provided a much-deserved milestone for their coach.
“He works very hard every day in practice with the coaching staff that he has,” Austin said. “I really couldn’t be more thankful for the coach I have. He has prepared me not only for basketball but for life in general. I think the 500 wins doesn’t just represent the wins. It represents the thing he has created and the thing he has instilled in all of us so that once we are in the real world we can be successful at what we do. I don’t I am so excited about the 500 wins, because I know he has worked tremendously hard with the coaching staff.
“When I am 30 years old with my kids I am giong to be like, ‘Yeah I was part Holy Cross, and I was there when he had 500 wins,’” Austin said.
Lombardo, who improved to 500-83 now in his 24th year at Holy Cross, said he never expected to be coaching the girls team long enough to win even 100 games.
“The goal was to take over the girls program, get some experience as a head coach and then move over the to boys when Mr. (Ed) Generali retired,” Lombardo said. “I think Mr. General stayed another 30 years though. But even if he stayed another 3-4 more years, I dont’ think I would have went to the boys. I enjoy teaching and coaching the fundatmentals. I think my strength as a coach is what I do in practice with the girls. We really work as a team and build through fundamentals. Right now this is the right spot for me.”
Ward said she feels fortunate to be in the spot she’s in
“Being part of the 500th means that we are part of the legacy,” Ward said. “We are part of the thing that is Holy Cross girls basketball. It is a huge thing for us, because it means we have followed in the footsteps of the great people before us. It is really important.”
The players dumped glitter out of a Gatorade container over Lombardo’s head after the game and gave him a framed photo collage to commemorate the milestone win.
Austin said that part of the allure of being at Holy Cross was the opportunity to play for such a great program and a demanding coach.
“As a little back story, when I came in as a freshman, I knew it was going to be a hard program,” Austin said. “It is a serious program and everyone here is energetic. Being able to be a senior and see him get 500 wins feels really good, because I have been able to be a part of it. Even though I haven’t been ehre for all 24 years, obviously, being part of it for four years is tremendous.”

HOLY CROSS 60, SACRED HEART 49
Sacred Heart (5-2): Aamya Rivera 6 3 16, Adalena Francis 0 0 0, Jenna Madigan 1 0 2, Treasure Coleman 8 2 19, Hayley Tucker 3 0 7, Mikayla Mobley 2 0 5, Nevaeh Jones 0 0 0, Totals: 20 5 49.
Holy Cross (6-1): Julia Mecca 3 0 9, Allie Brown 2 0 4, Hannah Brown 2 2 6, Jenna Mowad 0 0 0, Lizzy Diorio 0 0 0, Meah Austin 7 7 21, Ashley Davis 0 0 0, Jasmine Thorpe 0 2 2, Ja’Lin Waters 0 0 0, Aiyana Ward 8 2 18, Meghan Mazzzatto 0 0 0. Totals: 22 13 60.
Sacred Heart 11 3 20 15 — 49
Holy Cross 12 15 23 10 — 60
3-point goals: S — Rivera 1, Coleman 1, Tucker 1, Mobley 1; HC — Mecca 3.

SEYMOUR 56, OXFORD 46
Seymour (5-2): Kolby Sirowich 2 0 4, Alyssa Johnson 1 0 2, Alyssa Cosciello 0 3 3, Sydnie Drezek 5 7 17, Morgan Teodosio 8 5 18, Jacey Cosciello 0 0 0, Izzy Calabro 0 0 0, Grace Hayes 2 3 7, Molly Kennedy 1 3 5. Totals: 19 18 56.
Oxford (1-6): Molly Smith 2 2 6, Kelly Shpak 4 6 16, Molly Sastram 5 5 16, Maddie Smith 1 0 2, Sam Kostek 0 0 0, Laura Trombetta 2 0 4, Maddie Sastram 2 0 5, Paige Davis 0 0 0. Totals: 16 13 46.
Seymour 11 11 12 22—56
Oxford 14 10 12 10—46
3-point goals: O—Shpak 2, Molly Sastram 1, Maddie Sastram 1.

WOLCOTT 59, TORRINGTON 46
Wolcott (3-3): Emiah Soto 1 0 2, Hannah Francisco 0 0 0, Raven Cody 8 7 25, Samantha Hickey 2 1 5, Morgan Matyoka 1 0 2, Alayna Greene 2 4 8, Jenna Hoban 2 0 4, Mary Louise Barnes 0 0 0, Morgan Kiely 2 0 4, Adrianna Ferrucci 0 0 0, Kailyn Lawlor 3 4 10. Totals: 21 16 59.
Torrington (1-5): Julia McCarthy 0 2 2, Shannon Reardon 4 1 9, Kate Mooney 3 3 9, Alyssa Maraia 5 1 1, Kristen Gray 2 2 6, Maggie Thompson 0 0 0, Amelia Mierzwinski 0 0 0, Kayla Williams 3 0 8, Alicia Caskey 0 0 0. Totals: 17 9 46.
Wolcott 16 17 15 11—59
Torrington 10 16 9 11—46
3-point goals: W—Cody 1; T—Williams 2, Maraia 1.

WCA 51, CROSBY 44
Crosby (5-2): Ana Lala 0 0 0, Destiny Cancel 0 0 0, Erica Soares 4 0 8, Shyan Perez 0 0 0, Leyda Colon 3 4 10, Amayah Benjamin 0 0 0, Tiahna Pulliam-Bishop 8 2 18, Briana Jackson 0 0 0, Destiny Parris 0 1 1, Gloria Vergeli 3 0 7. Totals: 18 7 44.
WCA (4-3): Janelle Goodman 0 0 0, Shyra Fisher 4 4 14, Taylor Dunn 2 0 4, Allaysia Murrell 0 0 0, Leila Lazaro 1 1 3, Alexus Lee 0 0 0, Michalyn Vaichus 7 1 15, Jonna Pierce 0 0 0, Armani Weaver 2 4 9, Kendra McPherson 3 0 6, Chelyes Joseph 0 0 0. Totals: 19 10 51.
Crosby 3 16 15 10—44
WCA 15 12 13 11—51
3-point goals: C—Vergeli 1; WCA—Fisher 2, Weaver 1.

ST. PAUL 43, NAUGATUCK 34
Naugatuck (4-2): Mia Rotatori 4 0 10, Alexis Woods 3 0 6, Alyana Sosa 3 0 6, Hailey Deitelbaum 2 3 7, Hailey Russell 2 0 4, Alyssa Peterson 0 1 1. Totals: 14 4 34.
St. Paul (6-1): Taylor Crawford 1 4 6, Aidrianna Lopez 3 0 6, Emma Cretella 1 0 3, Molly Hooks 1 1 3, Janessa Gonzalez 6 8 25, Olivia Stump 0 0 0, Brie Giantonio 0 0 0, Catherine Ciampi 0 0 0, Morgan Kolb 0 0 0, Megan Fortier 0 0 0, Lindsey O’Bright 0 0 0. Totals: 12 13 43.
Naugatuck 6 5 13 10—34
St. Paul 17 11 4 11—43
3-point goals: N—Rotatori 2; S—Gonzalez 5, Cretella 1.

WATERTOWN 49, WOODLAND 47
Woodland: Katie Sirowich 0 0 0, Haley Andrews 4 1 10, Eliza Smith 3 9 15, Paige Resnick 1 0 2, Hana Bojka 1 0 2, Jillian Barbarito 8 1 18. Totals: 17 11 47.
Watertown: Jordyn Forte 6 5 18, Bri Nolan 0 2 2, Alyssa Santangelli 3 0 6, Emily Deptula 5 2 12, Chloe Defeo 2 3 7, Kayla Fac 2 0 4, Allie Mazzarella 0 0 0, Kayla D’Elia 0 0 0. Totals: 18 12 49.
Woodland 10 12 5 20—47
Watertown 7 11 16 15—49
3-point goals: Wo—Andrews 1, Barbarito 1; Wa—Forte 1.

DERBY 52, ANSONIA 42
Derby (3-4): Aryssel Flores 6 6 18, Cristina Carloni 1 0 2, Madison Koval 3 2 8, Kiara Swilling 4 5 14, Isabelle Chevarella 0 4 4, Lucy Lane 0 0 0, Devina Lopez 2 2 6, Emily Borowski 0 0 0. Totals: 16 19 52.
Ansonia (2-4): Hailey Belido 0 0 0, Larissa Rodriguez 1 0 3, Josenia Lopez 2 1 5, Natasha Rivera 4 8 16, Liz Wilson 2 5 10, Jayda Sanchez 1 0 2, Whisper Sanders 0 0 0, Sara Hanaif 0 0 0, Lilly Romanowski 2 0 4, Arianna Blackwell 1 0 2. Totals: 13 14 42.
Derby 14 7 12 19—52
Ansonia 7 10 17 8—42
3-point goals: D—Swilling 1; A—Rodriguez 1, Wilson 1.

KENNEDY 58, WILBY 28
Kennedy (2-4): Hannah West 8 2 18, Yakira Edwards 7 0 18, Ashley Lamb 4 0 8, Phoebe Cassette 2 0 4, Aniyyah Watson 1 02, Amaryllies Rivera 1 0 2, Vivian Bunker 0 0 0. Totals: 23 2 58.
Wilby (0-6): Jerica Fabian 2 1 6, Janaira Garcia 4 0 9, Tayler Saunders 0 0 0, Javilet Soto 2 0 4, Solmany Perez 1 0 2, Xhaxiria Bayez 3 1 7. Totals: 11 2 28.
Kennedy 14 11 17 16—58
Wilby 9 6 9 4— 28
3-point goals: K— Edwards 4; W — Fabian 1, Garcia 1.

NORTHWESTERN 35, LEWIS MILLS 32
Northwestern (7-0): Addie Hester 4 4 12, Natalie Lederman 3 0 6, Morgan Daley 3 0 6, Gina Weingart 2 1 5, Emma Propfe 2 0 4, Frankie DeSanti 1 0 2, Skylar Dimartino 0 0 0. Totals: 15 5 35.
Lewis Mills (3-4): Sammy Chadwick 7 1 17, Alyssa Wrabel 5 0 10, Abby Mills 1 0 3, Brooklyn Murdick 0 1 1, Gabby Bagdonas 0 1 1, Emily Hunt 0 0 0, Lauren Alvarez 0 0 0, Sammy Groleau 0 0 0, Nikki Ignatowski 0 0 0, Hannah Rich 0 0 0. Totals: 13 3 32.
Northwestern 11 11 8 5—35
Lewis Mills 12 3 7 10—32
3-point goals: LM—Chadwick 2, Mills 1.

SHEPAUG 42, LITCHFIELD 36
Shepaug (4-3): Eilish Crossley 0 0 0, Olivia Moore 0 0 0, Brooke Donaghey 1 6 8, Rachel Andrews 2 2 7, Lucy Puskas 6 3 16, Haylie Lasky 0 4 4, Avery Serra 1 1 3, Abby Harty 2 0 4. Totals: 12 16 42.
Litchfield (0-6): Amber Marino 4 1 9, Alexa Guerrera 2 0 5, Anna Conaghan 0 0 0, Rachel Leigh 2 0 4, Sam Brodeur 2 0 6, Ali Davenport 3 2 8, Aileen Lennon 0 0 0, Sam Barnes 1 0 2, Hayden Southard 0 0 0, Olivia Kennedy 1 0 2. Totals: 15 3 36.
3-point goals: S—Andrews 1, Puskas 1; L—Brodeur 2, Guerrera 1.

GILBERT 41, WAMOGO 39
Wamogo (4-2): Emily Carlson 1 0 2, Jona Mucka 0 0 0, Cassidy Wilson 6 1 13, Justine Lago 1 0 2, Morgan Betti 3 0 8, Marissa Church 0 0 0, Samantha Sylvester 3 0 6, Casey Bovat 0 0 0, Rose Kelly 4 0 8. Totals: 18 1 39.
Gilbert (0-0): Jill Wexler 3 1 8, Liz Wexler 2 5 10, Angie Delacruz 2 1 5, Marcela Moreira 3 1 8, Dileysi Sarmiento 3 0 6, Tia Mongitore 0 0 0, Abbey Beecher 1 0 2, Maryellen Marino 0 2 2, Hannah Crowley 0 0 0. Totals: 14 10 41.
Wamogo 11 10 7 11—39
Gilbert 10 6 16 9—41
3-point goals: W—Betti 2; G—L. Wexler 1, Moreira 1, J. Wexler 1.

NONNEWAUG 44, TERRYVILLE 28
Nonnewaug (4-3): Mary Bibbey 9 1 20, Ashley Hennessey 0 0 0, Ally Mauro 0 0 0, Jen Charette 1 4 6, Tori Maclean 1 1 3, Riley Becker 2 0 6, Nicole Mercer 1 0 2, Monica Uniet 1 0 2, Maddie Woodward 2 1 5. Totals: 17 7 44.
Terryville (0-5): Jordan Conklin 0 0 0, Jacki Johnson 0 0 0, Hailey Marin 1 0 2, Mackenzie Huria 7 1 16, Tiffany Pires 1 0 2, Amy Roqi 1 0 2, Lauren Jacobs 1 1 3, Alana Girch 1 0 3. Totals: 12 2 28 .
3-point goals: N—Becker 2, Bibbey 1; T—Huria 1, Girch 1.

CHENEY TECH 35, WOLCOTT TECH 14
Cheney Tech (5-2): Iris Dillon 0 0 0, Danielle Marks 2 0 4, Madison Tufi 3 0 6, Egypt Bell-Clayton 1 1 3, Angelysee Lozada 1 0 2, Taylor Solito 0 0 0, Catherine Kershaw 3 0 6, Alexah Potter 7 0 14. Totals: 17 1 35.
Wolcott Tech (1-2): Lizeth Estevez 0 0 0, Teja Petersen 2 1 5, Allysia Ruggiero 2 0 5, Sarah Roussis 0 0 0, Katie Benedict 1 0 2, Victoria Smith-Silvia 1 0 2, Summer Moulthrop 0 0 0, Katiusca DeLaCruz , Abigail Hanlon 0 0 0. Totals: 6 1 14.
3-point goals: C—none; W—Ruggiero 1.

HARVEY 61, CHASE 50
Harvey: Dani Oddo 10 1 24, Julia Mallon 7 7 23, Ally Walsh 3 0 6, Courtney Warren 3 2 8, Kathryn Ogg 0 0 0, Kylene Groff 0 0 0, Sadie Albert 0 0 0, Sydney Penn 0 0 0. Totals: 23 10 61.
Chase: Sam Crone 1 2 4, Sam Dassatti 7 3 21, Angelene Guglielmo 0 0 0, Phoebe DiRiu Crowley 1 0 2, Maddie Patrick 6 5 18, Grace Frohock 1 1 3, Emma Denihan 1 0 2, Jilly Carelton 0 0 0. Totals: 17 10 50.
3-point goals: H—Oddo 3, Mallon 2; C—Dassatti 4, Patrick 1.

[This post contains video, click to play]

BY ROGER CLEAVELAND

WATERBURY — You could have closed your eyes at the Holy Cross girls basketball game Wednesday and still envisioned what the Crusaders are all about this season simply by listening to the demands barked out by highly expressive coach Frank Lombardo.

“Don’t shoot the ball from out there!” “Get the ball inside!” “See how easy that is?” “She’s open, give it to her in there!”

It’s not that the Crusaders are limited in their options this season. As always, they have plenty of talent and ultimately they will rely on their aggressive, active team defense more than they will on any single player.

But they also know that when they need a basket or when they are looking for an area of strength offensively, they can call on their heart and soul, otherwise known as Meah Austin and Aiyana Ward.

[This post contains video, click to play]

It’s actually difficult to tell which of the two 5-foot-10 senior forwards is the heart and which is the soul of the team. In fact, they often take turns playing those particular roles. At any given point in a game, one will provide the necessary inside scoring presence, and the other will contribute whatever complementary support is needed be it rebounding, energy or simply a huge distraction that opposing defenses must respect.

Austin said they are like twins on the court, not just because their games are similar but because they have a knack for knowing where each other will be and how to help one another thrive.

“I feel like Aiyana and I have always had a real good connection working well together,” Austin said. “We know our strengths, and we try to execute them on both of our behalves. If she is open, dump it into her. If I am open, dump it into me. We work really well and have pretty good unspoken communication. I think it will get stronger as the season goes along.”

The Crusaders are 6-1 this season with the only loss coming to perennial Class LL power Mercy. Lombardo knows his team is a work in progress, and while he tries to construct another championship quality club he is going to rely on his dynamic post duo.

“The strength of our team obvious is Meah Austin and Aiyana Ward,” Lombardo said. “They are both two year starters and basically four-year players although Aiyana missed her sophomore season with an injury. Our perimeter players are just gaining varsity experience. So for the last couple of practices we have been working on lobbing the ball toward the basket, because Aiyana and Meah will go up and get it and make a play out of it.”

During Wednesday’s 60-49 victory over rival Sacred Heart, Austin finished with 21 points and 21 rebounds while Ward contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds.

“With us being pretty dominant and knowing what we need to do, me and Aiyana work really well together,” Austin said. “We work really hard to get the ball inside, because that is the easiest way to score or get a foul. Whoever is in the post that has always been a goal of ours is to pound it inside and try to get a layup or draw a foul.”

Part of Wednesday’s success stemmed from the fact that the Hearts just couldn’t match up inside because their strength is their phenomenal guard play from Treasure Coleman and Aamya Rivera. But Ward and Austin believe they can be successful against anyone when they are playing well together and their teammates are supporting them as well as they have this season.

“I feel like we always want to come out strong and show (the Hearts) what we are made of because they are our rivals, but we do that with every other team,” Austin said. “We want to show them that we are Holy Cross and that we are going to play hard defense, and we are going to play unselfishly, and we are going to get each other the ball.”

Both players said their teammates certainly provide all the help they need to form a great team. Senior Julia Mecca gives the Crusaders balance with her great 3-point shooting ability and scrappiness, and juniors Allie Brown and Hannah Brown are also capable of scoring and playing unselfishly with tremendous energy.

Everyone is still working on getting better so the Crusaders can make another run like they did last season all the way to the Class L state final. Even Ward and Austin know they can get better.

“We are still trying to get that game where we both work super well together at the same time, but I think right now it is paying off that when she has it going we keep passing the ball to her, and then when I am hot I get it,” Ward said. “We just keep going back and forth until they can’t stop both of us.”

BOYS BASKETBALL
Holy Cross held Kennedy to two points in the first quarter while scoring 18 itself en route to a 65-51 Naugatuck Valley League boys basketball victory Saturday at Tim McDonald Gymnasium.
Mikey West had 18 points and DeAndre Wallace added 12 points for the Crusaders. Josiah Parilla led the Eagles with 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
Isiah Gaiter had 26 points and Raheem Solomon scored 16, but it wasn’t enough for Sacred Heart, which lost, 77-58, to Long Island Lutheran of New York in the LuHi Invitational. Solomon surpassed 1,000 career points and now has 1,014 at Sacred Heart.
In a battle of unbeatens, Pomperaug lost, 64-47, to Amity in Woodbridge. Jason Hirschauer had 16 points while David Satkowski grabbed 10 rebounds for the Panthers (6-1). Tyler Thomas led the Spartans (5-0) with 21 points
Tyler Arbuckle scored a game-high 24 points to lead St. Paul to a 73-47 win over Seymour.
Jahwan Cody scored 17 points to lead four double-figure scorers in Derby’s 72-53 win over visiting Oxford. The Red Raiders scored 31 fourth-quarter points.
Jared Guilmart scored 18 points to lead Litchfield past Terryville, 52-37.
Jack Cook had 18 points, four rebounds and four steals as Chase picked up its first win of the season, 46-37 over Marvelwood. Jamal Clarke had 14 rebounds and three blocks to go with six points.
Jamaal Waters scored 16 points and Will Ellis added 12 in Cheshire Academy’s 69-55 loss to Vermont Academy.

GIRLS BASKETALL
Megan Todhunter scored 20 points to lead Pomperaug to a 68-56 win over Bethel in a South-West Conference game.
Mia Juodaitis scored 24 points with 11 steals and three blocks to lead Cheshire to a 52-24 Southern Connecticut Conference win over Lauralton Hall.
Alyana Sosa scored 15 points to lead Naugatuck to a 52-43 nonleague win over Westhill of Stamford.
Aryssel Flores scored 25 pointsto lead Derby to a 39-45 NVL win over visiting Oxford.
Sierra O’Neil and Alison Holmes each scored eight points to lead Housatonic to a 29-28 win over Wamogo in a Berkshire League game in Litchfield. Rose Kelly had a game-high 14 points for Wamogo.
Amber Marino scored 18 points as Litchfield (1-6) won for the first time this season, 39-37 at Terryville. McKenzia Huria and Ami Roqi each had 11 points for the Kangaroos (0-6).
Araceli Gonzalez scored 17 points and added six rebounds and six steals to lead Cheshire Academy to a 50-40 win over Hopkins in New Haven.
Taft scored the first seven points of the second half to tie the game at 27, but undefeated St. Luke’s took over from there on the way to a 66-41 victory. Kris Manfreda and Lauren Pelosi had nine points each for the Rhinos.

NAUGATUCK 52, WESTHILL 43
Westhill (1-6): Maddy Bautista 2 2 6, Vana Servos 0 0 0, Peyton Haruet 4 1 9, Dulce lamos 0 0 0,
Sam Johns-Flicks 2 1 5, Tamar Briette 0 0 0, Grace Hansen 4 0 8, Grace Zufano 3 0 6, Andese Osborne 0 0 0, Meaghan Lavelle 0 0 0, Nia Holley 4 0 9. Totals: 19 4 43.
Naugatuck (5-2): Alissa McNeil 0 0 0, Mia Rotatori 2 2 8, Alexis Woods 1 0 2, Alyana Sosa 6 3 15, Hailey Deitelbaum 2 4 8, Hailey Russell 4 2 10, Brielle Behuniak 0 0 0, Shannon Burns 0 0 0, Evelyn Diaz 0 0 0, Alyssa Roberts 0 3 3, Alyssa Peterson 1 4 6. Totals: 16 18 52
Westhill 8 10 16 9 — 43
Naugatuck 10 12 10 20 — 52
3-point goals: W — Holley 1.

DERBY 49, OXFORD 45
Derby (4-4): Aryssel Flores 9 6 25, Cristina Carloni 0 3 3, Madison Koval 1 2 4, Kiara Swilling 4 2 10, Devina Lopez 0 0 0, Isabelle Chevarella 0 1 1, Lucy Lane 2 0 4, Emily Borowski 1 0 2. Totals: 17 14 49
Oxford (1-7): Molly Smith 6 1 13, Kelly Shpak 0 2 2, Molly Sastram 4 2 10, Maddie Smith 3 0 6, Sam Kostek 2 2 7, Laura Trombetta 2 2 6, Maddie Sastram 0 0 0, Paige Davis 0 1 1. Totals: 17 10 45.
3-point goals: D — Flores, 1; O — Kostek, 1.

LITCHFIELD 39, TERRYVILLE 37
Litchfield (1-6): Amber Marino 6 6 18, Alexa Guerrera 2 1 5, Anna Conaghan 2 2 6, Rachel Leigh 1 0 2, Sam Brodeur 2 0 4, Allie Davenport 1 0 2, Aileen Lennon 0 0 0, Sam Barnes 1 0 2. Totals: 15 9 39.
Terryville (0-6): Jordan Conklin 0 0 0, Jacki Johnson 3 1 7, Hailey Marin 0 0 0, McKenzie Huria 4 2 11, Tiffany Pires 0 0 0, Amy Roqi 5 1 11, Lauren Jacobs 0 0 0, Alana Girch 4 0 8. Totals: 16 4 37.
3-point goals: L—none; T—Huria.

HOUSATONIC 29, WAMOGO 28
Housatonic: Caroline Hurlbert 0 2 2, Sierra O’Neil 4 0 8, Alison Holmes 2 4 8, Emily Geyselaers 2 0 4, Madelynn Olownia 0 0 0, Olivia Fortsman 2 3 7. Totals: 10 9 29.
Wamogo: Emily Carlson 2 0 4, Cassidy Wilson 1 0 2, Justine Lago 0 0 0, Morgan Betti 1 0 3, Marissa Church 0 0 0, Samantha Sylvester 1 0 3, Casey Bovat 1 0 2, Rose Kelly 6 2 14. Totals: 12 2 28.
Housatonic 8 3 7 11 — 29
Wamogo 7 7 8 6 — 28
3-point goals: W — Betti 1, Sylvester 1.

POMPERAUG 68, BETHEL 56
Pomperaug (6-1): Lindsay Ouellette 1 2 4, Karli Opalka 3 1 7, Megan Todhunter 7 4 20, Maggie Lee 2 9 14, Allison McCormick 1 5 8, Claudine Legato 5 0 12, Molly Flanagan 1 0 3. Totals: 20 22 68.
Bethel (6-2): Mia Prazeres 2 0 4, Vicky Grace 2 0 4, Lilly Daniels 6 5 18, Stephanie Mosley 1 0 2, Gabriella Mendonca 1 0 3, Brittany Roach 3 0 7, Maranda Nyhong 8 3 19. Totals: 23 8 56.
Pomperaug 12 19 7 30 — 68
Bethel 17 6 11 22 — 56
3-point goals: P — Todhunter 2, Flanagan 1, Legato 2, McCormick 1, Lee 1; B —Daniels 1, Mendonca 1, Roach 2

CHESHIRE 53, LAURALTON HALL 24
Lauralton Hall (0-6): Julia Sendzik 1 0 3, Lauren Adams 2 0 5, Julia Haskins 2 1 6, Julia Rush 1 0 3, Lauren Dowling 1 1 4, Athena Chirigos 1 1 3. Totals: 8 3 24
Cheshire (3-5): Sara Mulligan 2 1 5, Brady McQuade 2 0 4, Emily Yonych 4 2 10, Ariana Perlini 2 1 5, Mia Pulisciano 2 0 4, Mia Juodaitis 10 2 23, Rylee Post 1 0 2 Totals: 23 6 53
Lauralton 8 0 5 11 — 24
Cheshire 19 19 11 4 — 53
3-point goals: LH — Sendzik 1, Adams 1, Rush 1, Dowling 1, Chirigos 1, C — Juodaitis 1.

ST. LUKE’S 66, TAFT 41
Taft (4-3): Anna Koziol 1-0-2, Kris Manfreda 3-1-9, Amara Chidom 3-2-8, Juliana Yamin 2-0-5, Kayla Robinson 3-0-6, Sam Chan 1-0-2, Lauren Pelosi 4-1-9, Anna Csigirinszkij 0-0-0, Maggie O’Leary 0-0-0. Totals: 18 2 41.
St. Luke’s (9-0): McKenna Frank 2-4-8, Maya Klein 5-2-16, Sydney Cummings 2-2-6, Tamia Fulton 0-2-2, Janelle Johnson 8-0-21, Caroline Lau 6-0-13. Totals 23 10 66.
Halftime: St. Luke’s, 27-20.
3-point goals: T—Manfreda 2, Yamin 1; S—Johnson 5, Klein 4, Lau 1.

CHESHIRE ACADEMY 50, HOPKINS 40
Cheshire Academy (7-2): Nadya Ponthempilly 0 1 1, Nia Hubbard 1 0 3, Liv Redding 1 1 3, Julianna Fazzino 1 0 3, Des Parker 1 0 2, Brie Bavaro 4 3 11, Audrey Allen 2 0 4, Rachel Abraham 0 0 0, Araceli Gonzalez 8 1 17, Kyla Raccio 0 6 6. Totals: 18 12 50.
Hopkins (3-1): Samantha Phelan 3 0 7, Emma Lipman 1 46 6, Galen Smith 6 7 19, Ella Zuse 0 3 3, Genevieve Spear 1 0 2, Charlotte Yin 1 0 3. Totals: 12 14 40.
Halftime: CA, 26-21.
3-point goals: CA 2 — Hubbard, Fazzino 1; H — Phelan 1.

PLATT 52, BRISTOL EASTERN 51
Bristol Eastern (3-5): Paige McLaughlin 2 0 4, Miranda Janick 3 2 8, Hannah Maghini 3 9 17, Cheyenne Sargent 2 1 5, Jordan Ouellette 7 3 17, Karly Martin 0 0 0. Totals: 17 15 51.
Platt (5-3): Wallica Bailey 5 1 11, Jayleena Gordils 7 2 20. Martha Chapman 0 3 3, Julia Misner 3 4 10, Kira Lopez 40 8. Totals: 19 10 52.
Eastern 15 14 5 17 — 51
Platt 5 13 19 15 — 52
3-point goals: BE — Maghini 2; P — Gordils 4.

MILLBROOK 36, FORMAN 25
Forman (1-5): Courtney Schullery 3 3 11, Brady Garrity 3 0 6, Grace Miller 1 0 2, Addie Lamond 0 1 1, Annabelle Ford-Rippolone 0 0 0, Sarah Kothari 1 0 3, Sophia Gadsden 1 0 2, Olivia Minor 0 0 0, Hailey Strauss 0 0 0, Kseniya Kotova 0 0 0. Totals: 9 4 25.
Millbrook (1-5): Helene Apollon 6 3 15, Lizzie Chamberlin 4 2 10, Lillie Marcos 4 0 8, Zoe Tucker 1 1 3, India Patterson 0 0 0, Daniela Muscari 0 0 0, Alyssa McLeod 0 0 0, Paeten Parker 0 0 0, Skylar Mahaffey 0 0 0, Emily Novak 0 0 0, Suwaibatu Mohammed 0 0 0. Totals: 15 6 36.
Halftime: Millbrook, 18-11.
3-point goals: F — Schullery 2, Kothari 1.

The girls basketball season is a week older than the boys, and we’ve done the math to find out the top scorers on each team: