Here are the All-State girls basketball teams as selected by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association:

Class LL

• Mary Baskerville, Enfield
• Meghan DeVille, Mercy
• Ellen Fair, Staples
• Gabrielle Joseph, Notre Dame-Fairfield
• Juile Keckler, Trumbull
• Rylee Mulligan, Newtown
• Olivia Parisi, Fairfield Warde
• Bella Santoro, Mercy
• Taniyah Thompson, Hamden
• Janette Wadolowski, Southington
• Ashley Wilson, Norwalk

Class L

• Anna Barry, RHAM

• Erin Carucci, Suffield
• Gretchen Kron, RHAM
• Isabelle Lipinski, Farmington
• Karli Opalka, Pomperaug
• Melanie Polanco, Maloney
• Tiahna Pulliam, Crosby
• Aiyana Ward, Holy Cross
• Sara Wohlegemuth, Hand

Class M

• Mary Bibbey, Nonnewaug
• Trinity Bravo, Kolbe Cathedral
• Samantha Chadwick, Lewis Mills
• Janessa Gonzalez, St. Paul Catholic
• Kate Hall, Stonington
• MaKenzie Helms, East Haven
• Nicole Lukens, Rocky Hill
• Madeleine McGee, Granby
• Katherine Orefice, Weston
• Kylie Schlottman, East Haven
• Jenna Serrantino, Cromwell

Class S

• Abigail Charron, Canton
• Loren D’Agostino, East Windsor
• Treasure Coleman, Sacred Heart
• Jessica King, Coginchaug
• Lauren Keel, East Windsor
• Savannah Marshall, Westbrook
• Emily Renzoni, Somers
• Marissa Shirshac, Windham Tech
• Hailey Tompkins, Lyman Memorial

Academic All State

• Mary Bibbey, Nonnewaug
• Olivia Parisi, Fairfield Warde
• Janette Wadolowski, Southington
• Aiyana Ward, Holy Cross

By JOE PALLADINO

The 2018 All-Hoop Zone team boasts some of the finest talent of recent seasons, and perhaps it offers more: a great many players who will return in 2018-19 to chase more championships.
The selections were difficult. The talent level was especially strong, the way we like it. Here are our picks:

Girls Basketball First Team
Treasure Coleman, Sacred Heart: A junior, Coleman led the team to its first Naugatuck Valley League title in more than 40 years and consecutive trips to the Class S semifinals.

Liz Wexler, Gilbert: At 15.1 ppg, Wexler led the Berkshire League in scoring and finished with 1,000 points for her career despite missing one full season due to injury. Wexler guided the Yellowjackets into the Class S quarterfinals.

Aiyana Ward, Holy Cross: The engine on the inside for Cross, Ward was also an All-State academic star. She captured both the Dottie Shortell Award as the NVL’s top senior and the Rich Genua Award as the city’s top senior.

Gabbie Dunn, Westover: Dunn became the first player at Westover to score 1,000 points and followed that up this season by becoming the first to reach 2,000. With a 25.6 ppg. average, Dunn led all area players in scoring.

Hoop Zone Girls Player of the Year

Karli, Opalka, Pomperaug: Opalka was a walking double-double for the Panthers, with 61 for her career. She beat up opponents in the paint and scored 1,333 career points with 1,294 rebounds. This past season, she averaged 15.2 ppg and 11.3 rebounds.

Opalka is a three-time All-SWC selection, a three-time Class L All-State pick and a McDonald’s All-American nominee.

“Words can’t describe how much Karli has meant to this program over the past four years,” said Pomperaug coach Joe Fortier. “Her leadership, talent and work ethic made her one of the best players to put on a Pomperaug uniform. She will be missed greatly.”

Boys Basketball First Team
Mikey West, Holy Cross: One of three juniors on the first team, West excelled in his first season with Cross. He averaged 19.6 ppg. for the Crusaders and ran an offense that featured three double-figure scorers.

Marquan Watson, WCA: Watson averaged 20 ppg. as a junior and has reached 1,000 points for his career already. Perhaps the most physical inside threat in the NVL, Watson is comfortable on the perimeter, too.

Garrett Sattazahn, Wamogo: The slick guard led the the Warriors to the Division V title game. A superb shooter with a quick release, Sattazahn averaged 19 ppg.

Isiah Gaiter, Sacred Heart: One half of the All-State duo in the Hearts’ backcourt, Gaiter is a smooth player who gets any shots he wants. Gaiter averaged 24.4 ppg., which was the second-best total in the NVL. He received the Billy Finn Award as the city’s top senior.

Hoop Zone Boys Player of the Year
Raheem Solomon, Sacred Heart: Solomon averaged 23 points, six rebounds and four assists per game, and finished with 1,538 career points. In four seasons, Solomon’s teams were 106-5, 103-1 against Connecticut schools and 84-0 in the NVL. He won four NVL titles, three state titles and was recipient of the Connie Donahue Award as NVL’s top senior.

In the NVL title game of 2017, Solomon carried the Hearts to the championship with a courageous fourth quarter, scoring clutch baskets after injuring a knee that would require surgery. And in the Division I title game defeat this year, Solomon hauled the Hearts on his back with 17 consecutive second-half points against Notre Dame-Fairfield.

“I’d offer that Raheem came into Sacred Heart as a piece of the larger puzzle,” said Hearts coach Jon Carroll, “quietly learning and improving and perfecting his craft. But don’t let his quiet demeanor take anything away from the ferocity with which he competed. He has held himself as a gentleman, on and off the court, but is as competitive a person as I’ve ever had the privilege to coach.”

Girls Coach of the Year
Ron Picard, Sacred Heart: The Hearts improved steadily under Picard, won their first NVL title in more than 40 years and made back-to-back trips to the state semis. The Hearts have won 36 games over the last two seasons.

Boys Coach of the Year
Gregg Hunt, Wamogo: Our John Wooden without the rolled-up program, Hunt does one thing consistently: win. Master of the BL tournament upset, Hunt guided the Warriors to the Division V title game this season. He earned career victory No. 400 in March and now has 415 total, including 292 at Wamogo.

Girls all-Hoop zone
Second team
Raven Cody, Wolcott; Mia Juodaitis, Cheshire; Alyana Sosa, Naugatuck; Janessa Gonzalez, St. Paul; Tiahna Pulliam, Crosby.

Third team
Meah Austin, Holy Cross; Mary Bibbey, Nonnewaug; Samantha Chadwick, Lewis Mills; Megan Todhunter, Pomperaug; Aamya Rivera, Sacred Heart.

Honorable mention
Jordyn Forte, Watertown; Armani Weaver, WCA; Sydnie Drezek, Seymour; Aryssel Flores, Derby; Addie Hester, Northwestern; Emma Propfe, Northwestern; Alexa Milius, Thomaston; Rose Kelly, Wamogo; Eliza Smith, Woodland; Maggie Lee, Pomperaug; Maddie Patrick, Chase Collegiate; Kayla Robinson, Taft; Lauren Pelosi, Taft; Mikayla Mobley, Sacred Heart; Shannon Burns, Naugatuck.

Boys All-Hoop Zone
Second team
DeAndre Wallace, Holy Cross; Jaylen Crawford, Seymour; Jean Lukau, Naugatuck; Zack Penn, Northwestern; Tyler Spears, Crosby.

Third team
Josh Schibi, Lewis Mills; Christian Harris, Wilby; Tyler Arbuckle, St. Paul; Kerwin Prince, Crosby; Mario Paniccia, Pomperaug.

Honorable mention
Matt Torres, WCA; Jadan Battle, WCA; Kyle LaMay, Shepaug; Zach Bedryczuk, Woodland; Joe Brunelli, Shepaug; Aaron Stewart, Kaynor Tech; Jason Hirschauer, Pomperaug; Lashawn Smith, Kennedy; Elmin Redzepagic, Wolcott; Mike Palmieri, St. Paul; Nyzair Rountree, Holy Cross; Isaiah Walker, Derby; Ben North, Northwestern; Jack Cook, Chase Collegiate; Joel Villanueva, Torrington.

Some guys go on and on. Elmer Deschaine, Art Hamm and Ron Diorio are the fine wines of officials. They get better with age. But after 31 years of officiating high school and college basketball games, Dan Scavone has put away the whistle.
Scavone, 56, the former athletic director at Woodland and Nonnewaug and currently the commissioner of the Central Connecticut Conference, has not totally removed himself from the game. He is now a CIAC guy, the new assistant director for boys and girls basketball tournaments.
Yes, indeed, there’s a new guy to blame for everything. You can never have enough. Sorry, Dan, just kidding. Really.
Scavone takes over for the retiring Tom Murray, and the job is the toughest on record: to assign officials for all tournament games, boys and girls.
“I had been an athletic director for so long, an official, and on so many committees across the state, this was the perfect job for me,” Scavone said. “I couldn’t pass it up.”
It is a part-time job for a full-time guy. “In late February, the job ramps up,” Scavone said. “It takes a lot of hours to assign all the officials for all boys and girls tournament games.”
But Scavone will not wait until tourney time to do tourney work. When the first ball is tossed up in December, he will be in a gymnasium, as always, and in countless gymnasiums before the tournaments begin.
“My goal is to go to as many games as possible and see as many officials work as I can,” he said. “I still want to get out there. I plan to be busy for the entire season.”
Scavone is built like a gymnasium, but even he has been worn down by the long season and the many miles on the roads and on the courts across southern New England. “My legs couldn’t take three or four games a week anymore,” he said. “Sometimes, it took a few hours before I was able to walk normally, but I would probably still be doing games if this hadn’t come along.”
Scavone will take notes and rate officials during the season. He might even miss having Crosby’s Nick Augelli or Sacred Heart’s Jon Carroll whisper sweet nothings in his ear. In the midst of frantic Naugatuck Valley League games Scavone always wandered over to the press table, if there was one, to smile and say how much fun it was being on the floor for a great game. We will miss that.
But Scavone will still be part of the great tournament games to come. He will put the best officials he has on the floor, except that now he won’t be one of them.
“We have to look for younger officials,” Scavone said. “There is a shortage. Our officials are getting older, and there are not enough new candidates for the future.”
And now there is one more official to replace.
Send comments to jpalladino@rep-am.com and follow on Twitter @RAOffTheRecord.

Here are team previews for the girls basketball teams in the NVL’s Copper Division (information supplied by team coaches):

ANSONIA

Head coach: Vince DellaVolpe (5th season, 14-66)

2017-18: 7-13

Key players: Seniors Liz Wilson (10.4 ppg, 8 reb), Larissa Rodriguez, Arianna Blackwell; Juniors Natasha Rivera (11.4 ppg, 10 reb), Hailey Bellido; Sophomores Jayda Sanchez, Lilly Romanowski; Freshman Jojo Sanchez.

Outlook: The Chargers were one win shy of qualifying for the Class S tournament last season. The team returns its two top scorers and four starters. Look out state tourney, here come the Chargers.

Coach’s comment: “We are cautiously optimistic about the season. Physically, this is the most talent we’ve had since 2012-13. If the Chargers can find consistency from our eight to nine varsity players we hope to compete for a state tourney berth as well as a division title and a spot in the NVL tourney.”

DERBY

Head coach: Dave Chevarella (22nd season, 149-282)

2017-18: 6-14

Key players: Seniors Cristina Carloni (8 reb), Devina Lopez (7 reb), Taylor Seno, Precious Perez; Junior Madison Koval (5 ppg, 9 reb); Sophomores Kiara Swilling (7 ppg, 5 reb), Lucy Lane, Isabelle Chevarella, Emily Borowski.

Coach’s comment: “The girls are working very hard and improving every day.  With continued improvement we’re hoping to better last year’s record and qualify for the post season.”

OXFORD

Head coach: Nora Curley (2nd season)

2017-18: 9-12

Key players: Seniors Kelly Shpak (11.5 ppg), Molly Sastram (9.4 ppg), Maddie Smith, Molly Smith.

Coach’s comment: “We are looking for leadership from our four seniors to be competitive in league play. We have a small group again this year, but we are hoping to build on what we did last year and make states and NVLs.”

SEYMOUR

Head coach: Brian Cleveland (10th season, 90-104)

2017-18: 15-8

Key players: Seniors Sydnie Drezek (14 ppg, 3 assists, All-NVL), Caty Ragaini, Megan Condo, Alyssa Cosciello, Isabella Calabro; Juniors Kolby Sirowich (8 ppg, 6 rebs), Arlinda Peraj; Sophomores Morgan Teodosio (7 ppg, 8 rebs), Alyssa Johnson, Kiley Drezek, Jacey Cosciello.

Outlook: Seymour was sensational in 2017-18. This season could be even better. The Wildcats return talent at every position. They can score, rebound, bring the D, and there is depth. Somebody tell the board of ed: They may need a bigger gym.

Coach’s comment: “This Seymour team is primed and ready. Two varsity caliber players back from injury and talented freshmen class combined with a ton of returning varsity experience will make for an exciting season.”

WOODLAND

Head coach: Jess Moffo (8th season)

2017-18: 9-13

Key players: Senior Hana Bojka (5.2 ppg); Juniors Jillian Barbarito (8.4 ppg), Katie Sirowich, Paige Resnick, Jenna Palmieri; Sophomores Ava DeLucia, Natalie Miranda, Allison Koliani, Elayna Beutel.

Outlook: If depth will get you anything, then the Woodland girls have something going on. There is a lot of talent to draw from.

Coach’s comment: “We have a good core of returning players. We are young and looking to build off every day in practice and games. The girls are a hard working group and are fun to be around. We look forward to getting on the court, competing everyday, and still have NVLs and states set as team goals.”

Here are team previews of the girls basketball teams in the NVL’s Brass Division (information supplied by team coaches):

CROSBY

Head coach: Phil Lott (9th season)

2016-17: 14-9

Key players: Junior Tiahna Pulliam (18.6 ppg, All-NVL, All-State).

Outlook: The Bulldogs need someone, anyone, to help Pulliam carry the load.

Coach’s comment: “After losing five seniors from last season we are rebuilding. We have our All-State player returning and a young group of players who are eager to play hard and win.”

HOLY CROSS

Head coach: Frank Lombardo (25th season, 514-86)

2016-17: 20-4

Key players: Seniors Hannah Brown (5.1 ppg, 3 assists), Allie Brown (4 assists), Nadia French-Graham, Elise Pelletier, Jasmine Thorpe, Jalin Waters; Juniors Jenna Mowad, Ashley Davis; Sophomores Alyssa French-Graham, Alyssa Hebb, Cara Melchionne, Cassidy Williams; Freshmen Cayla Howard, Maeve Perrone, Nyasia Smith.

Outlook: That 20-4 record from 2017-18 is terrific, but don’t think the Crusaders enter this season pleased with the end of last season. As always, Cross lost a ton of talent, like NVL top senior Aiyana Ward, but as always Cross brings back a ton too.

Coach’s comment: “We graduated many seniors (four starters) from last year’s team. There are a couple seniors and juniors who played varsity minutes that will be counted on to play a lot of minutes. Our juniors and sophomores have been successful at the junior varsity level. Now they need to prove they can be successful at the varsity level. Our team goal is to work hard and improve each day. We strive to be the best we can at tournament time.”

KENNEDY

Head coach: Jenn Deeley (18th season)

2016-17: 4-16

Key players: Seniors Shyan Perez, Phoebe Cossette, Francielys Comas; Junior Javilet Soto; Sophomores Vivian Bunker, Amaryllies Rivera, Aniyyah Watson.

Outlook: There is a crowd of good players here. The Eagles look like a tourney team again.

Coach’s comment: “We are fortunate to have outstanding student athletes with tremendous work ethics who are improving every day. Qualifying for the state tournament is not out of reach for this group.”

SACRED HEART

Head coach: Ron Picard (6th season)

2016-17: 21-6 (NVL champion, Class S semifinalist)

Key players: Seniors Adalena Francis, Hayley Tucker; Juniors Aamya Rivera, Paige Carroll, Trista Caron, Navaeh Jones; Sophomore Mikayla Mobley.

Outlook: The defending NVL champs will be tested this season, and after two straight runs to the Class S semifinal game it seems about time to get on a bus for Uncasville. The Hearts will have to do it without Treasure Coleman, who has packed up and gone prep. There is still a ton of talent here, and it is fast and exciting.

Coach’s comment: “Our returning girls have a great deal of experience from the previous year. That experience should bode well for the upcoming 2018-2019 season.”

WCA

Head coach: Stephen Barbieri (4th season, 22-43)

2016-17: 11-12

Key players: Seniors Taylor Dunn, Janelle Goodman, Chelyse Joseph, Leila Lazaro, Dianne Samaroo; Juniors Shanice Martin; Sophomores Zaria Escoffery,  Jonna Pierce.

Outlook: The Spartans made their mark in the city and NVL last season, but now must retool after a lot of talent was lost to graduation.

Coach’s comment: “We are an older team with little varsity experience. Of our five seniors only a couple have logged varsity minutes. We will look for a couple underclassmen to play major minutes and continue to learn and improve as the season goes on. That being said, our goal of making the state tournament and qualifying for the NVL tournament has not changed. We will continue to work hard and improve every day in hopes of accomplishing those goals.”

WILBY

Head coach: Kelly Fengler (1st season)

2016-17: 0-20

Key players: Seniors Solmary Perez, Shaxiria Baez, Jonaria Garcia; Juniors Tayler Saunders; Sophomore Jynia Gibbs.

Outlook: The Wildcats once again have a new coach.

Coach’s comment: “The girls are adjusting to having a new coach and new guidelines for the program. We are lacking in depth and experience at the varsity level, however, they are working extremely hard.”

Here are the previews of the girls basketball teams in the NVL’s Iron Division (information supplied by team coaches):

NAUGATUCK

Head coach: Gail Strumpf-Cheney (2nd season)

2017-18: 19-5 (NVL finalist)

Key players: Seniors Hailey Deitlebaum (6.8 ppg), Mia Rotatori (6.4 ppg), Shannon Burns (8.6 ppg); Juniors Alyssa McNeil, Brielle Behuniak, Hailey Russell; Sophomore Alyssa Roberts.

Outlook: There is a lot of talent back from the team that made a dazzling run to the NVL title game. The Greyhounds are definitely in the crowded field of championship contenders.

Coach’s comment: “We graduated a number of girls from last years team that played key roles. We are looking to really continue with our ‘team’ focused mentality and hopefully build off of what we started last year.”

ST. PAUL CATHOLIC

Head coach: Joe Mone (24th season, 348-92)

2017-18: 18-5

Key players: Seniors Emma Cretella, McKenzie Gauthier, Catherine Ciampi, Ashley Suzio, Morgan Kolb; Juniors Janessa Gonzalez (19 ppg, All-NVL, All-State), Jade Udoh (12 ppg, 7 reb), Olivia Heslin, Olivia Stump, Kailyn Bielecki.

Outlook: Gonzalez is back and cleared to play after a season-ending injury that also injured the Falcons chances for an NVL repeat. There is size and depth here, so put the Falcons back up there as an NVL title contender.

Coach’s comment: “We are returning a lot of players that were able to get varsity experience due to injuries last year. With the return of an all league and all division player as well as the improvement of our junior and senior classes, we have the opportunity to have a strong season.”

TORRINGTON

Head coach: Mike Fritch (26th season)

2017-18: 5-15

Key players: Seniors Alyssa Maria (10.3 ppg), Alicia Caskey.

Outlook: The Raiders have a tough task ahead with only one returning starter and overall numbers down in the program.

Coach’s comment: “We have a good core of returning players, with many underclassmen who will have to replace graduating seniors. We are seeing a decline in numbers in our girls programs and have a very limited number of players who will be relied on to help rebuild our program. Our goal is to take small steps, work hard and improve game to game.”

WATERTOWN

Head coach: Jason Hurdle (5th season, 54-37)

2016-17: 8-13

Key players: Seniors Jordyn Forte (15.2 ppg), Chloe DeFeo (7.1 ppg), Alyssa Santangeli, Emily Deptula (7.3 ppg), Nicole DeFeo.

Outlook:There is experience here, and scoring throughout the lineup. Good luck handling Forte out of the guard position. She has size, speed, and she will score on you. The Indians will be back into the NVL tourney and are one of the crowded title contenders in the Iron Division. 

Coach’s comment: “I think we will be a well-balanced team. Besides returning players, we have a few new girls that add to what we already have and we are very excited about this season.”

WOLCOTT

Head coach: Marty DiTuccio (3rd season)

2016-17: 12-8 (Class M quarterfinal)

Key players: Juniors Kalani Rodriguez, Morgan Matyoka, Hannah Francisco; Sophomores Emiyah Soto, Allie LeClerc, Adrianna Ferrucci, Sammie Riviezzo, Vlora Alka, Ella Vaughn.

Outlook: Sure, that lineup looks young, but they all, or most, have varsity experience. The loss of the NVL’s leading scorer (Raven Cody, 20.7 ppg) hurts, but the Eagles also lost all five starters. Team will surely benefit from post-season experience of 2018.

Coach’s comment: “We are a very young team because of the graduation of our five seniors who started most of our games last year. However, many of our underclassmen received valuable varsity playing time during the latter part of the season and through the NVL and the state tournaments. We are looking to get better every week and to finish strong towards the end of the season.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Natalie Hodak put in a game-high 24 points to lead the Taft School girls basketball team to a 48-45 victory over Pomfret on Wednesday. Kayla Robinson grabbed 21 rebounds and added eight points for the Rhinos (3-0).
BOY’S BASKETBALL
MacDuffie 86, Cheshire Academy 61: Asa Beyah netted 23 points and Justin Allen added 21 for the ‘Cats (0-3).
Chase 57, Forman 27: Rafael Mahario led the Highlanders (1-0) with 16 points, while Ryan Capazucca led Forman (0-1) with 11.

Boys basketball
MACDUFFIE 86, CHESHIRE ACADEMY 61
Cheshire Academy (0-3): Ian McCutchen 0 3-3 3, Marco Barosi 0 1-2 1, Asa Beyah 7 9-12 23, Max Mazzella 0 1-3 1, Ethan Okwuosa 3 2-4 8, Justin Allen 7 3-4 21, Anuar Alampys 1 2-2 4. Totals 18 21 61.
MacDuffie (4-1): J. Bouknight 13 2-3 29, T. Pehway 6 0-0 12, M. Pelletier 3 0-0 6, M. Niemczuva 2 2-2 6, Gorham 1 1-3 3, Sprangs 2 5-8 9, Archer 4 0-0 10 3 2-2 9, Samuels 1 0-0 2, Massoud 3 2-2 9 Venning 1 0-0 2. Totals 36 10 86.
Cheshire Academy 14 16 15 15— 61
MacDuffie 24 23 12 27—86
3-point goals: CA — Allen 4; M — Archer 2, Bouknight 1, Massoud 1.

CHASE 57, FORMAN 27
Chase (1-0): Rob Jones 4 0 10, Anthony Molina 4 3 12, Rafael Mahario 5 5 16, Rohan Singh 0 0 0, Stefanos Bilis 4 0 8, Jamal Clarke 4 0 8, Jaiden Paniagua 0 0 0, Colby Calabrese 1 0 3, Evan Harte 0 0 0, Neel Avancha 0 0 0. Totals 22 8 57.
Forman (0-1): Jake Silbernan 1 2 5, Ryan Capazucca 4 2 11, Antonio Garcia 0 0 0, John Blake 1 0 2, Jackson Beers 1 1 4, Ethan Krammer 1 0 3, Harrison Day 1 0 2. Totals 9 5 27.
3-point goals: C—Molina 1, Jones 2, Calabrese 1, Mahario 1. F—Silberman 1, Beers 1, Capazucca 1, Krammer 1.

Girls basketball
TAFT 48, POMFRET 45
Taft (3-0): Sophie Webb 1 0 3, Maggie O’Leary 1 0 3, Anna Csigirinszkij 2 2 6, Natalie Hodak 10 0 24, Lauren Villanueva 0 0 0, Anna Koziol 0 0 0, Tessa Graebner 1 0 2, Elise Moreira 0 0 0, Celine Anyaegbunam 0 0 0, Kayla Robinson 2 4 8, Eliza Ford 1 0 2. Totals 18 6 48.
Pomfret (0-2): Zahansky 5 1 12, Schipper 2 0 4, Vincent 1 1 3, Srinivasan 8 4 22, Travers 0 0 0, Schauder 2 0 4, O’Hara 0 0 0. Totals 18 6 45.
3-point goals: T— Hodak 4, O’Leary 1, Webb 1. P—Srinivasan 2, Zahansky 1.

The NVL girls basketball season begins on Monday. Will there be a new champion?

Last season the Sacred Heart girls broke through and won the title, before going on to the state semifinals where they lost for the second straight season.

Here are the team previews for this season:

Brass Division

Copper Division

Iron Division

So, who you got?

The girls basketball season begins Monday and will end in mid-March at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

While there have been a lot of losses from last year due to graduation and transfers, plenty of talented players will step up and fill the void.

Last year the only girls team to advance as far as the state tournament semifinals was Sacred Heart. The NVL champs will have a strong roster again this season, as will 2017 champion St. Paul

NVL girls basketball previews

BL girls basketball previews

Area team girls basketball previews

For the second straight year the Hoop Zone experts have put together a preseason All-Hoop Zone team, comprised of the best girls basketball players heading into the 2018-19 season.

Preseason All-Hoop Zone team

Janessa Gonzalez

St. Paul, Jr., G: Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury, Gonzalez was still an All-NVL and All-State guard for the Falcons. She averaged 19 ppg. last year.

Tiahna Pulliam

Crosby, Jr., F: An All-NVL and All-State player for the Bulldogs, she averaged 18.6 ppg. a year ago and scored 32 points in Crosby’s first-round Class L loss to Platt.

Jordyn Forte

Watertown, Sr., G: An All-NVL guard, Forte led the Indians in scoring with 15.2 ppg., and is the second-leading scorer among returning players in the league. She can post you up, she can shoot, and beat you to the rim.

Maggie Lee

Pomperaug, Sr., G: A terrific outside shooter, she made 37 3-pointers a year ago while averaging 11.7 ppg.

Sydnie Drezek

Seymour, Sr., G: An All-NVL guard, she averaged 14 points and three assists for the Wildcats.

Honorable mention

• Mia Juodaitis, Cheshire
• Samantha Chadwick, Lewis Mills
• Jade Udoh, St. Paul
• Alyssa Maraia, Torrington
• Hannah Brown, Holy Cross
• Aamya Rivera, Sacred Heart
• Mikayla Mobley, Sacred Heart
• Liz Wilson, Ansonia
• Kelly Shpak, Oxford
• Marcie Moreira, Gilbert
• Emma Propfe, Northwestern
• Natalie Lederman, Northwestern
• Lucy Puskas, Shepaug
• Cassidy Wilson, Wamogo
• Maddie Patrick, Chase
• Kayla Robinson, Taft

By JOE PALLADINO

WATERBURY — The Sacred Heart High girls started this basketball season the way they ended last basketball season: winning a championship in Taglia Gymnasium. 

The Hearts won three quarters, including an 18-12 victory over Crosby in the final, to win the city girls basketball jamboree on Saturday. It wasn’t always pretty. After building a 7-0 lead over Holy Cross in the team’s first game, the Hearts hung on to win 9-7. In the semifinal, the Hearts trailed Waterbury Career in the final minute, until Mikayla Mobley hit a 3-pointer to key a 12-9 victory.

But in the final, behind an early trey by Mobley and five points from Aamya Rivera, two coming off steals, the Hearts won the title going away.

“At first we were just taking fast shots,” Mobley said, “but once we settled down we were good.”

Indeed. Rivera scored five of the team’s nine points against Cross, and Trista Caron came off the bench to bash the boards and score five against WCA.

“I feel that throughout the season we’ll come together better,” Rivera said, “but right now we’re still a little iffy. We’ll clean up our act a little more.”

Here are the jamboree results:

Game 1

Crosby 18, Kaynor Tech 6

Crosby tops Kaynor 18-6 behind eight points from Glorines Rivera. “I think we did pretty good for the first game,” Rivera said, “repping the jersey pretty good.”

Game 2

Chase Collegiate 14, Wilby 4

Lauren Tuck led the Highlanders with six points. “We have a good team,” said Tuck. “We’re a little young, but we’re doing good.”

Game 3

WCA 14, Kennedy 11

Jonna Pierce scored four points, including a clutch hoop in the final minute, to lead the Spartans. “We need to get better,” Pierce said. “We did the plays that we need to do, and we played tight defense.”

Game 4

Sacred Heart 9, Holy Cross 7

Rivera scored five points as the Hearts held off Holy Cross.

Consolation 1

Wilby 7, Kaynor Tech 3

Jonaria Garcia sank two clutch free throws in the final minute for the Wildcats in a game with more fouls (15) than points.

Consolation 2

Holy Cross 19, Kennedy 5

Alyssa Hebb and Cayla Howard scored four each for Cross.

Semifinal 1

Crosby 14, Chase 13

Tiahna Pulliam scored 10 of Crosby’s 14 points, including three in the final minute, to lead the Bulldogs. Ella Atkins led Chase with seven. “That took a lot of encouragement and strength,” Pulliam said. “We will get better. This was just us starting out.”

Semifinal 2

Sacred Heart 12, WCA 9

Caron scored five points and Mobley hit a late 3-point hoop as the Hearts rallied over WCA. Pierce added four for the Spartans.

Final

Sacred Heart  18, Crosby 12

Rivera scored seven and Mobley hit another 3 pointer as the Hearts topped the Bulldogs to win the city jamboree. Pulliam scored four.

By JOE PALLADINO

WATERBURY – They are the twin titlists of Naugatuck Valley League basketball. Can they repeat? We’ll know more soon.

The Sacred Heart boys and girls both captured the NVL championship in 2018, the fourth straight for the boys, the first in three decades for the girls. Hearts hoops had a combined record of 45-9.

Let’s look first at the boys:

Good luck, NVL.

The Hearts are still on an 86-game NVL win streak, but with a significantly altered personality. The team graduated a Billy Finn Award winner in Isiah Gaiter and a Connie Donahue Award winner in Raheem Solomon, so slick guard play will be replaced by size and muscle.

“We’re a lot bigger this year,” said sophomore center Connor Tierney, who is no longer 6 feet, 11 inches. He has made it. He’s a 7-footer, officially, although I am still tempted to bust out a tape measure if I can find one big enough.

“We have size in the post and on the wing, and we can all run the ball up the floor,” added Tierney, who returns as the team’s leading scorer at 7.9 ppg.

Yeah, that’s where the questions must be asked. Remember, the only two players back from last season who saw any time on the floor are Tierney and sophomore Caleb Sampson, and Sampson did not start.

But back to the size … check this out: Tierney, 7-0; Omar Rowe, 6-6; Nate Tabor, 6-5; Jamaal Waters, 6-6.

Waters is a newcomer, a senior from Cheshire Academy. Tabor, a guard, was with the Hearts as a freshman, but left in midseason. Last year, he was at Our Savior New American School on Long Island, but did not play. He comes back off knee surgery.

Rowe was a state champion with the Hearts in 2017. He left school, attended Lincoln High in Brooklyn for a year, but came back to Sacred Heart this year. He is eligible again and is a senior.

Oh, yes, the talent is there, but can all these parts be put back together?

“We’ve got to get everybody to play together and go in the right direction,” said coach Jon Carroll, “and be the best team we can be in February and March. That’s the goal, and having them understand that every time they walk into a gym, people will take their best shot at you. That’s something they will have to learn quick.”

Tabor watched the Hearts from the bench at the end of last season as he rehabbed his knee. He saw the NVL title run and watched the state title run end one victory shy.

“We’ve got to come back stronger,” he said. “We know what we’ve got to do. It’s business this year.”

The girls bring most of the pieces back, except for guard Treasure Coleman, who opted to play prep basketball at Berkshire School. Fear not, the Hearts remain deep and quick and are bigger as well.

So, how do the girls make it all happen again? Hayley Tucker (6.1 ppg.) said there is no mystery to that.

“We have to work hard, work as a team, run our plays and be fast,” she said.

Ah, fast they are. Even without Coleman, the Hearts fly. They feature a lot, but there is no doubt that their lightning-quick guards, junior Aamya Rivera (13 ppg.), sophomore Mikayla Mobley (8.9) and senior Adalena Francis, will keep NVL defenses in a tizzy.

“We are a fast-paced team, and we can just run the ball up and down the court,” Francis said.

The key word there is run.

But what coach Ron Picard loved most about the Hearts of 2018 was the team-first mentality. It did not come overnight and, he said, it was not lost in the offseason.

“There is chemistry; the whole team has great chemistry,” the coach said. “They play for each other. It shows a lot this year, and it bodes well for the team.”

OK, Hearts, get ready. Everyone is after you.

Send comments to jpalladino@rep-am.com, and follow on Twitter @RAOffTheRecord.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Naugatuck Valley League
Woodland 39, Wolcott 22
Berkshire League
Gilbert 48, Thomaston 33
Others
Housatonic 39, Immaculate 33
Conard 53, Bristol Eastern 46
Pomperaug 53, St. Joseph 35
Chase 42, Wooster 41
Ethel Walker 38, Cheshire Acad. 36
BOYS ICE HOCKEY
Watertown-Pomperaug 2, NFI 2

POMPERAUG 57, ST. JOSEPH 35
Pomperaug (1-0): Marina Lambiase 0 2 2, Alex Rafferty 1 0 2, Cara McGettigan 1 2 4, Jada Stietzel 3 0 6, Molly Flanagan 3 3 10, Maggie Lee 6 9 25, Maddie Villa 2 0 4 Totals: 16 16-20 53
St Joseph (0-1): Veronica Lubas 0 0 0; Elizabeth Adzima 0 0 0; Kathryn Zito 1 1 3; Kaitlin Capobianco 0 0 0; Tessie Hynes 2 0 5; McKenna Hedman 0 0 0; Rahmia Johnston 2 1 5; Deenya Hings 1 0 2 Maddie Johnson 1 2 4 Emma Elrod 5 1 12 Totals: 12 7 35.
Pomperaug 10 13 13 17—53
St. Joseph 14 6 8 7—35
3-pointers: SJ—Hynes, Elrod 3; P— Lee 4, Flanagan 1. Highlights: Lee 10 rebounds; Flanagan 9 rebounds; Villa, Lambiase combined 11 steals.

WOODLAND 39, WOLCOTT 22
Woodland (1-0): Katie Sirowich 0 0 0, Elayna Beutal 0 0 0, Chelsea Donovan 0 0 0, Gabby Mastropietro 0 0 0, Natalie Miranda 0 0 0, Kylie Bulinski 0 0 0, Allyson Koliani 0 0 0, Paige Resnick 1 0 3, Hana Bojka 1 0 2, Andra Bojka 4 6 15, Jenna Palmieri 0 0 0, Ava DeLucia 1 0 2, Riley Kane 2 0 4, Jillian Barbarito 5 2 13. Totals:14 8 39.
Wolcott (0-1): Emiah Soto 0 0 0, Gianna Gervase 0 0 0, Kalani Rodriguez 1 3 5, Samantha Riviezzo 0 0 0, Hannah Francisco 1 0 3, Morgan Matyoka 0 1 1, Alison Leclerc 1 0 2, Ella Vaughn 0 1 1, Adriana Ferruci 3 0 6, Vlora Alka 2 0 4. Totals: 8 5 22.
3-point goals: Wood— Koliani 1, A Bojka 1, Barbarito 1. Wol— Francisco 1.

GILBERT 48, THOMASTON 33
Gilbert (1-0): Jill Wexler 1 0 2, Tia Mongitore 0 1 1, Abbey Beecher 2 2 6, Angie Delacruz 4 0 8, Marcie Moreira 7 0 15, Sam Lukowski 0 1 1, Maryellen Marino 3 0 6, Dileysi Sarmiento 4 1 9. Totals: 21 5 48.
Thomaston (0-1): Megan Guay 2 0 6, Emily Root 3 0 9, Emma Kahn 2 0 4, Sydnee Eggleton 2 3 7, Aurelia Barker 0 1 1, Emma Sanson 2 0 4, Elyse Krasnowski 1 0 2. Totals: 11 4 33.
Gilbert 14 14 10 10—48
Thomaston 7 3 9 14—33
3-point goals: G—Moriera 1. T—Root 3, Guay 2.

HOUSATONIC 39, IMMACULATE 33
Housatonic (1-0): Caroline Hurlburt 2 3 7, Sierra O’Niel 2 2 6, Sydney Segalla 5 2 12, Ella Segalla 3 0 6, Madelynn Olownia 4 0 8. Totals: 16 7 39.
Immaculate (0-1): Nicoletti 1 0 2, Kent 3 6 12, Cirone 0 5 5, O’Rourke 4 0 10, Brown 1 0 2, Mueller 0 2 2. Totals: 9 13 33.
3 point goals: I[Dash]O’Rourke 2.

CHASE 42, WOOSTER 41
Wooster: Ali Lopes 2 0 4, Darby Drahzal 0 0 0, Savanna Sikorski 0 0 0, Emma Shorten 0 0 0, Bailey Fleming 0 0 0, Morgan Reilly 0 0 0, Lily Newman 0 0 0, Khamya Christodonte 2 1 5, Hannah Matteson 4 0 8, Evie Zahner 1 0 2, Frances Ryan 8 0 22. Totals: 17 1 41.
Chase: Loren Tuck 5 2 13, Maya Tucker 1 0 2, Eliza Slevinsky 1 0 2, Mina Zeng 0 0 0, Meris Rosenberg 0 0 0, Ella Atkins 2 1 7, Angelene Guglielmo 1 1 3, Emma Denihan 0 0 0, Sherly Xiao 0 0 0, Maddie Patrick 4 7 15, Karen Sun 0 0 0, Vicky Wan 0 0 0, Jill Knies 0 0 0, Ali Dassatti 0 0 0. Totals: 14 11 42.
3-point goals: C—Atkins 2, Tuck 1. W—Ryan 6.

ETHEL WALKER 38,
CHESHIRE ACADEMY 36
Cheshire Academy (2-1): Nia Hubbard 4 0 11, Julianna Fazzino 1 0 2, Bri Bavaro 1 0 3, Audrey Allen 1 1 3, Araceli Gonzalez 2 1 5, Kyla Raccio 2 4 9. Totals: 11 6 36.
Ethel Walker (3-0): H. Iwoskiewice 4 0 9, J. Frigo 2 0 5, M. Dunn 4 5 14, R. Kerecz 2 0 6, K. Lawlor 1 2 4. Totals: 13 7 38.
Halftime: EW, 26-22.
3-point goals: CA—Hubbard 3, Bavaro 1, Nadeau 1, Raccio 1; EW—Kerecz 2, Iwoskiewice 1, Frigo 1, Dunn 1. Note: Hubbard 10 rebounds, 4 steals.

CONARD 53, BRISTOL EASTERN 46
Conard (1-0): Ella DePippo 1 0 3, Jessie McNally 5 0 12, Izzy Mocadlo 2 2 6, Azaiyah Felder 10 2 23, Meg Morhardt 2 1 7, Beatrice Sierra 1 0 2, Morgan Dorsey 0 0 0, Shealyn McAnn 0 0 0. Totals: 21 5 53.
Bristol Eastern (0-1): Paige McLaughlin 1 2 4, Julia Gettings 2 0 4, Ciara Collins 4 3 11, Sage Scarritt 3 0 6, Maura McGuire 1 0 2, Jordan Ouellette 2 2 6, Avery Arbuckle 6 1 13, De’Lis Wynn 0 0 0. Totals: 19 8 46.
Conard 2 3 14 9 7—53
Bristol Eastern 10 15 9 12—46
3-point goals: C—McNally 2, Morhardt 2, Felder 1, DePippo 1; BE—None.

[This post contains video, click to play]

[This post contains video, click to play]

By JOE PALLADINO

WATERBURY — In her first game of basketball in 11 months, after season-ending knee surgery last January, St. Paul Catholic’s Janessa Gonzalez returned and she returned triumphantly. The junior guard scored a game-high 26 points, 15 of them in the fourth quarter, as the Falcons rallied from a six-point deficit to defeat Holy Cross, 57-54, Tuesday night at McDonald Gymnasium.

“It felt great,” said Gonzalez about being back on the floor, “after not being able to play for 10 months. I was down, but I had to sit the bench and cheer my team on. But being back this first game felt great.”

Holy Cross (0-1) played well and seemed in control of this game in third quarter, thanks to the team’s typical pressure defense. But St. Paul (1-0) started to crash the boards, made free throws, and Gonzalez started to hit jumpers.

“We really just picked up the defense,” said center Jade Udou, who scored 13, with 11 boards and three steals, “we started to hustle to the ball, and also started penetrating.”

For Holy Cross, Alyssa Hebb led with 18 points and five rebounds, and Allie Brown added 13, with five boards. Ja’Lin Waters scored eight, with seven rebounds.

“We played very well,” Hebb said of Cross. “We need to play our hard defense for the whole game, 32 minutes, and pressure and press.”

ST. PAUL CATHOLIC 57, HOLY CROSS 54

St. Paul (1-0): Kailyn Bielecki 1 0 2, Olivia Heslin 2 2 6, Emma Cretella 1 2 4, Janessa Gonzalez 7 11 26, Olivia Stump 0 0 0, Catherine Ciamp 1 0 2, Hannah Stanford 1 0 2, Ashley Suzi 1 0 2, Jade Udoh 5 3 13. Totals: 19 18 57.

Holy Cross (0-1): Jasmine Thorpe 0 0 0, Allie Brown 4 4 13, Alyssa Hebb 8 2 18, Hannah Brown 2 3 7, Jenna Mowad 2 0 4, Maeve Perrone 2 0 4, Nadia French-Graham 0 0 0, Ja’Lin Waters 3 2 8, Ashley Davis 0 0 0. Totals: 21 11 54

St. Paul 11 10 12 24 — 57

Holy Cross 12 9 16 17 — 54

3-point field goals: StP — Gonzalez 1. HC — A. Brown 1.

Girls basketball
SACRED HEART 51, NAUGATUCK 33
Sacred Heart (1-0): Aamya River 10 3 24, Adalena Francis 3 0 6, Hayley Tucker 3 0 6, Mikayla Mobley 3 1 10, Trista Caron 1 3 5, Nevaeh Jones 0 0 0, Paige Carroll 0 0 0, Ally Daniels 0 0 0, Brooke Ferrare 0 0 0, Emily Ronalter 0 0 0. Totals 20 7 51.
Naugatuck (0-1): Brielle Behuniak 1 3 5, Hannah Biondo 0 0 0, Shannon Burns 1 0 2, Hailey Deitelbaum 3 0 6, Kaylee Jackson 1 2 5, Julia Kropo 0 0 0, Sara Macary 0 0 0, Alissa McNeil 2 1 5, Alyssa Roberts 1 3 5, Mia Rotari 0 0 0, Hailey Russell 0 0 0. Totals 10 12 33.
Sacred Heart 15 8 11 17—51
Naugatuck 12 11 6 4—33
3-point goals: SH—Rivera 1, Mobley 3. N—Jackson 1.

CROSBY 45, OXFORD 38
Oxford (0-1): Maddie Smith 1 1 3, Kelly Shpak 5 0 13, Maddie Sastrum 1 0 3, Molly Sastrum 3 3 9, Paig Davis 1 1 3, Molly Smith 2 2 7 Totals 13 7 38.
Crosby (1-0): Arianna Parilla 1 0 3, Daiza Rios 1 0 3, Iyanna Figeroa 0 0 0, Glorines Rivera 3 2 10, Amayah Benjamin 0 0 0, Tiahna Pulliam 8 9 25, Destiny Parris 1 2 4 Totals 14 13 45.
3-point goals: O—Kelly Shpak 3, Maddie Sastrum 1, Molly Smith 1 C—Glorines Rivera 2, Arianna Parilla 1, Daiza Rios 1.

JOEL BARLOW 50, SEYMOUR 48
Seymour (0-1): Kolby Sirowich 2 0 5, Megan Condo 0 0 0, Sydnie Drezek 4 0 12, Morgan Teodosio 2 2 6, Kenzie Sirowich 8 1 18, Alyssa Johnson 1 0 3, Caty Ragaini 1 0 2, Jacey Cosciello 0 0 0, Kiley Drezek 1 0 2. Totals: 19 3 48.
Joel Barlow (1-0): Julia Shapiro 1 1 3, Scotland Davis 1 0 3, Lisi Chapin 0 0 0, Emily Grob 5 2 12, Annie Tallamanca 5 3 15, Julia Mullin 5 3 16, Abby Stities 0 0 0, Abby Ota 0 1 1. Totals: 17 10 50.
Seymour 10 11 20 7—48
Joel Barlow 11 13 11 15—50
3-point goals: S—Drezek 4, Ko Sirowich 1, Ke Sirowich 1, Johnson 1. JB—Mullin 3, Tallamanca 2, Davis 1.
Of note: Teodosio 10 rebounds; Sirowich 6 steals, 7 rebounds.

KENNEDY 38, TORRINGTON 26
Torrington (0-1): Marissa Burger 2 0 4, Suzie Navin 1 0 2, Kate Mooney 3 0 7, Alyssa Maraia 1 1 4, Alicia Caskey 4 1 9, Olivia Smith 0 0 0, Leah Darby 0 0 0, Maddie McLaughlin 0 0 0. Totals:11 2 26.
Kennedy (1-0): Vivian Bunker 2 5 9, Shyan Perez 4 0 10, Amaryllies Rivera 2 0 4, Phoebe Cossette 0 0 0, Aniyyah Watson 5 0 12, Javilet Soto 1 0 3, Victoria Soto 0 0 0, Anijah Godfrey 0 0 0 Totals:14 4 38.
Kennedy 14 6 6 12—38
Torrington 9 6 0 11—26
3-point goals: T—Kate Mooney 1, Alyssa Maria 1. K—Shyam Perez 2, Aniyyah Watson 2, Javilet Soto 1.
Of note: Vivian Bunker 15 rebounds; Aniyyah Watson 10 rebounds.

ST. PAUL 57, HOLY CROSS 54
St. Paul (1-0): Janessa Gonzalez 7 11 26, Jade Udoh 5 3 13, Kailyn Bielecki 1 0 2, Olivia Heslin 2 2 6, Emma Cretella 1 2 4, Olivia Stump 0 0 0, Catherine Ciamp 1 0 2, Hannah Stanford 1 0 2, Ashley Suzi 1 0 2. Totals: 19 18 57.
Holy Cross (0-1): Alyssa Hebb 8 2 18, Allie Brown 4 4 13, Jasmine Thorpe 0 0 0, Hannah Brown 2 3 7, Jenna Mowad 2 0 4, Maeve Perrone 2 0 4, Nadia French-Graham 0 0 0, Ja’Lin Waters 3 2 8, Ashley Davis 0 0 0. Totals: 21 11 54
St. Paul 11 10 12 24— 57
Holy Cross 12 9 16 17—54
3-point goals: SP— Gonzalez 1. HC— Brown 1.

NORTHWESTERN 38, LITCHFIELD 25
Litchfield (0-1): Jeremina Prenoveau 0 0 0, Rachel Leigh 2 0 4, Samantha Brodeur 4 1 10, Allie Davenport 0 0 0, Olivia Kennedy 0 0 0, Mackenzie Schweter 0 0 0, Kadija Crapo 1 0 2, Aileen Lennon 0 0 0, Molly Lennon 1 0 2, Anna Conaghan 3 1 7. Totals: 11 2 25.
Northwestern (1-0): Francesca DeSanti 0 0 0, Natalie Munson 0 0 0, Emma Cameron 0 0 0, Sydney Sanden 1 0 2, Skylar DiMartino 3 2 9, Emma Propfe 8 3 19, Emily Munson 0 0 0, Harley Jasmin 0 0 0, Natalie Lederman 2 0 4, Jana Sanden 2 0 4. Totals:16 5 38.
Litchfield 6 4 10 5—25
Northwestern 10 17 3 8—38
3-point goals: L—Brodeur 3.

LEWIS MILLS 37, TERRYVILLE 19
Terryville (0-1): Zoe Zappone 2 0 4, Alyssa Thibodeau 0 0 0, Jordan Conklin 0 0 0, Alivia Cote 0 0 0, Taylor Barnett 1 0 2, Tiffany Pires 2 1 5, Amy Roqi 3 0 7, Lauren Jacobs 1 0 2, Kassie McCarthy 0 0 0. Totals:8 1 19.
Lewis Mills (1-0): Maggie Lagana 0 0 0, Abby Mills 0 1 1, Lauren Alvarez 0 0 0, Brianna Pelchar 1 0 2, Lauren Searle 0 0 0, Emily Hunt 3 0 6, Annika Fitzgerald 0 0 0, Samantha Chadwick 10 2 25, Chloe Brzoska 0 0 0, Nikki Ignatowski 0 1 1, Taylor Tantaquidegeon 0 0 0, Grace Annonson 0 0 0, Alisia Prisco 0 0 0. Totals: 15 4 37.
Terryville 5 2 5 7—19
Lewis Mills 6 13 8 10—37
3-point goals: T—Roqi 2. LM— Chadwick 3. Of Note: Chadwick 8 rebounds.

WOLCOTT TECH 33, WHITNEY TECH 27
Whitney Tech (0-1): Gianni Atkinson 3 1 8, Shaenna Boles 2 2 7, Emily Baez 1 0 2, Taylor Thomas 4 1 9, Allyiah Drake 0 1 1. Totals: 10 5 27.
Wolcott Tech (1-0): Teja Petersen 2 3 7, Katie Benedict 1 0 2, Victoria Smith-Silvia 0 1 1, Summer Molthrop 2 0 4, Katiusca DeLaCruz 1 3 5, Abigail Williams 7 0 14, Lizeth Esteves 0 0 0. Sierra Doyle 0 0 0, Yennifer Sarmiento 0 0 0. Totals: 13 7 33.
Whitney Tech 9 8 3 7—27
Wolcott Tech 10 4 5 14—33
3-point goals: Whit—Atkinson 1, Boles 1. Wol—none.
Note: Katie Benedict 8 rebounds, DeLaCruz 7 rebounds.

ANSONIA 50, WCA 28
Ansonia (1-0): Liz Wilson 7 1 17, Natasha Rivera 6 1 13, Jojo Sanchez 2 0 6, Hailey Bellido 1 0 3, Larissa Rodriquez 3 1 8, Jayda Sanchez 1 0 2, Lilly Ramonowski 0 1 1, Arianna Blackwell 0 0 0, Tatiaba Shuler 0 0 0, Isra Hanaij 0 0 0, Kiyree Michel 0 0 0. Totals: 20 4 50
WCA (0-1): Dianne Samaroo 4 0 12, Janelle Goodman 2 0 5, Zaria Escoffery 0 0 0, Chelyse Joseph 3 0 6, Elena Cuapio 0 0 0, Taylor Dunn 1 0 2, Geily Severino 0 0 0, Leila Lazaro 0 1 1, Jordynn Torres 0 0 0, Jonna Pierce 1 0 2, Shanice Martin 0 0 0, Nyjae Pacheco 0 0 0. Totals:11 1 28.
Ansonia 7 10 14 19—50
WCA 5 6 9 8—28
3-point goals: A—Wilson 2; Sanchez 2; Bellido 1; Rodriquez 1. WCA— Samaroo 4; Goodman 1.

CHESHIRE 48, WEST HAVEN 42
Cheshire (1-0): Mia Juodiatis 7 2 14, Kaylee Clark 4 3 14, Grace Lurz 4 0 8, Jordan DeMatteo 1 0 2, Emma Watkinson 1 2 4, Ella Watson 1 0 2, Rylee Post 1 0 2 Totals: 19 7 48.
West Haven (0-1) Natalia Frazier 5 0 10, Ny’ahe Serrano 5 0 10, Keegan Riccio 0 1 1, Sarah Evangeliste 2 0 6, Davina Mendez 2 2 6, Brianna Sebastian 1 2 4, Savannah Gray 1 0 2 Totals:14 5 42.
Cheshire 10 12 11 15—48
West Haven 8 10 12 10—42
3-point goals: C— Clark 2. WH— Evangeliste 2.

HOUSATONIC 33, SHEPAUG 27
Housatonic (2-0): Sierra O’Neil 3 3 12, Tori Dodge 1 0 3, Caroline Hurlburt 2 2 6, Alison Holmes 0 0 0, Ella Segalla 1 0 2, Christina Winburn 1 1 3, Madelynn Olownia 1 1 3, Sydney Sagella 2 0 4. Totals: 11 7 33.
Shepaug (0-1): Abbey Harty 5 1 13, Eilish Crossley 1 0 2, Rachel Andrews 0 0 0, Brooke Donaghey 2 0 4, Haylie Lasky 1 1 3, Lucy Puskas 1 3 5. Totals: 10 5 27
Housatonic 8 8 7 10—33
Shepaug 5 8 6 8—27
3-point goals: H—O’Neil 3, Dodge 1. S—Harty 2.

WATERTOWN 51, WILBY 17
Wilby (0-1): Solmary Perez 2 0 6, Jonara Garcia 1 0 3, Tayler Saunders 3 0 6, Jynia Gibbs 1 0 2. Totals: 7 0 17.
Watertown (1-0):Chloe Defeo 5 2 12, Jordyn Forte 4 1 10, Nicole Defeo 3 1 7, Alyssa Santangeli 1 0 2, Emily Deptula 4 2 10, Cayla D’Elia 1 0 2, Kristina Kyle 1 0 2, Marissa Forino 1 2 4, Allie Mazzarella 1 0 2. Totals: 21 8 51.
Wilby 0 7 5 5—17
Watertown 25 17 7 2—51
3-point goals: Wi—Perez 2, Garcia 1. Wa—Forte 1