Holy Cross defeated Torrington Monday night in the NVL tournament semifinal, 59-48, at Kennedy’s Taglia Gym. Cross advanced to the league final on Wednesday against St. Paul. (Palladino/RA)
WATERBURY — Holy Cross stormed out to a big lead — 20-4 to start the game — and then held off two Torrington rallies to claim a 59-48 victory in the NVL girls basketball tournament semifinal on Monday at Kennedy High’s Taglia Gymnasium.
Cross (21-1) advanced to the tourney final and will play St. Paul Catholic on Wednesday night, 7 p.m., back at Kennedy.
Isabel Plant was a hot shooter from outside and led Holy Cross with 14 points. Idalis Miranda added 13.
Torrington (16-6) made a game of it, closing the Cross lead to just one point when the Raiders went on a 22-9 run late in the first half. The Raiders rallied again from 13-points down in the second half, and closed to within four. But Miranda scored nine in that fourth quarter to lead Cross.
Brie Pergola led the Raiders with 18, and Alex Terrell added 12.
No. 1 HOLY CROSS 59, No. 4 TORRINGTON 48
Torrington (16-6): Alexis Tyrrell 4 2 12, Brie Pergola 5 7 18, Sidnee Kovall 1 0 2, Alyssa Maraia 4 0 10, Kayla Williams 0 1 1, Shannon Reardon 2 1 5, Colleen Kilgore 0 0 0. Totals: 16 11 48.
Holy Cross (21-1): Julia Mecca 1 0 3, Meghan Villano 1 0 2, Hannah Brown 3 0 7, Isabel Plant 6 0 14, Idalis Miranda 5 2 13, Meah Austin 3 1 7, Allie Brown 0 0 0 Natalie Hodak 2 0 4, Devan Eason 0 0 0, Aiyana Ward 4 0 8, Century McCartney 0 1 1, Nevya Vermette 0 0 0. Totals: 25 4 59.
Torrington 2 24 11 11— 48
Holy Cross 18 11 19 11 — 59
3-point field goals: T — Tyrrell 2, Pergola 1, Maraia 2; HC — Mecca 1, H. Brown 1, Plant 2, Miranda 1.