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BY ADAM BAKER
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
TORRINGTON — The first thriller of the long and cold winter season is officially in the books as the Holy Cross High girls basketball team came from behind to defeat Torrington, 60-56, Friday night at the Connie Donahue Gymnasium.
“That’s what happens up in Torrington,” said Crusaders coach Frank Lombardo.
Throughout most of the evening, Torrington looked poised to knock off Holy Cross, the perennial favorite in the Naugatuck Valley League. That was until the Crusaders turned up the intensity and exploded for 32 points in the fourth quarter, led by Idalis Miranda, who scored 15 of her 27 points in the game’s final eight minutes.
“We picked up our defensive intensity,” said Miranda. “I knew that my team had to play hard and I had to play hard, and we were able to take the lead and hold on.”
Aiyana Ward tied the game for Holy Cross at 54-54 by sinking two free throws with 1:22 to play. On the ensuing possession, the Crusaders’ pressure led to a steal by Miranda. She took it all the way to the hoop and was fouled for a three-point play, giving Holy Cross its first lead of the game at 57-54 with only 1:10 remaining.
“We changed our defense,” explained Lombardo. “We weren’t causing turnovers, so we changed to a zone-trapping defense and got three or four turnovers.”
Cross trailed by 14 points, 42-28, entering the fourth quarter. It was the Red Raiders’ largest lead of the game.
The Crusaders also went 15-of-17 from the free-throw line in the final period, led by Ward and Miranda, who were 6-for-6 and 6-for-7, respectively.
Ward tallied 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a steal for Holy Cross (2-0), while Austin grabbed 14 boards. In addition to her 27 points, Miranda also had five steals, four rebounds and three assists.
Torrington (1-1) was led by Brie Pergola with 13 points and six rebounds, and Sidnee Kovall added 11 points and seven rebounds. Kayla Williams chipped in with 10 points.
“Our energy and our speed finally started to kick in,” added Lombardo. “Once we got that spark we were playing Holy Cross basketball.”
Both teams will be back in action Tuesday. Holy Cross will take on Mercy at 6:15 p.m. as a part of the CPTV Sports Tip-Off Classic at Maloney High in Meriden. Torrington will host Crosby at 7 p.m.