When Sal Morello took over as the new head coach of the Cromwell High School girls’ basketball program he knew he was inheriting an experienced roster and a championship tradition. Morello, who replaced longtime coach Kelly Maher, now has the Panthers primed for a postseason run after winning 14 of 17 games this season. Last Tuesday, the Panthers earned win #13 with a convincing 52-32 win over conference rival Morgan at Jake Salafia Gymnasium inside CHS. Adela Cecunjanin scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds (seven offensive) as the Panthers took an early lead and never looked back. Cecunjanin, who scored eight points in the opening quarter, is captaining the team with fellow seniors Jessica Grodzicki and Nevaeh Clark. The 20-point outcome was a vastly different result from when they first played the Huskies in Clinton on Dec. 15 — a game the Panthers won by only two points. “We work every single day on our conditioning,” said Cecunjanin, who is averaging a double-double (14.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game) this winter. “We’re running up and down the floor the entire game and honestly I think that is the biggest difference from the first time we played them until now. “ The three captains are joined in the starting lineup by senior Grace Mikan and junior Cameryn Hickey. Hickey, who added 11 points in the victory, wowed the crowd midway through the first quarter by driving into the front row of the stands to save loose ball and tapping a perfect lead pass to Grodzicki for a transition layup as the Panthers started the game on a 14-1 scoring run. Hickey’s dive-and-dish was a theme of the night for a Cromwell squad that consistently made the extra effort and extra pass. The Panthers assisted on 15 of the team’s 21 made field goals, with Grodzicki dishing out seven of those helpers. Grodzicki said the bond between the returning starters was there from day one and now the connection with the younger players is forming. “I feel we’re all more comfortable talking and are meshing with the underclassmen,” added Grodzicki. “We know what it’s like to be in their position and we just want to be better as a whole. We all get along really well and it’s easy to play with each other.” A fierce, aggressive defense was also on display throughout the game, highlighted by the first quarter when Cromwell held Morgan to a mere three points. Clark said communication has been important on both ends of the court. “I feel like this year we’re more together as a team and we trust each other more to make that extra pass,” added Clark. “We started to be more unselfish with the ball and it’s gotten us really far so far.” The connection between the three captains was on full display in the fourth quarter when Grodzicki fired a pass to a cutting Clark, who did a nifty wrap-around bounce pass to Cecunjanin under the hoop for an easy two, putting the team up 50-25 with 6:50 to play in regulation “They are great passers, I just have to make sure I finish the layup,” said a smiling Cecunjanin. “We just have a lot more trust in each other and there is just comfortability.” Morello was a longtime assistant under Maher before being named her replacement when she stepped down after 15 seasons to focus on her position as the school’s Athletic Director. During Maher’s tenure the team won 83% of their games, chalking up 315 victories and three state titles. Morello’s goal was to continue that winning tradition and so far, so good for the new coach. Through the first 17 games, Cromwell is outscoring their opponents by 18 points per game and entered the week having won eight straight games. Morello said a lot of the principles are the same from the team under Maher, but added that he did tweak some philosophical strategy to fit the style basketball that he wants to run. “Our girls are getting more comfortable with the system that I wanted to put in. It was choppy in the beginning, but this is an experienced group and I think they have figured it out. Hopefully we are hitting our stride,” stated Morello. Morello added that his seniors have made the transition from assistant to head coach a smooth one, saying, “They have helped out tremendously from setting the tone in practice and with the work ethic. They have set a standard and structure for the other girls. I’ve been lucky.” The team’s fifth senior, Brynn Kovacs, is the first person off the bench and leads a talented group that can play big minutes if needed. This was evident in the team’s double overtime victory over Coginchaug on Jan. 27 when Morello needed to play Kovacs, along with junior Kayla Nappi and freshman Piper Kovacs during crucial stretches. “We have depth and it’s quality depth,” added Morello, who played all 12 of his players in the win over Morgan. “They have come in and given great minutes.” Grodzicki said that, despite the coaching change, things are “business as usual” this winter. “We are very used to playing with [Morello] and he is an amazing coach,” added Grodzicki. “We get it done in practice and in the game we show it.” Clark added that chemistry on the court will be key to keeping the momentum going, adding. “We have been working on our communication a lot and we just have to build on that.” Next up is a crucial Shoreline Conference (SLC) clash against East Hampton. The Panthers dealt the Bellringers their only loss earlier this season, winning 38-29 at East Hampton High School on Jan. 3. The rematch is set for this Friday, Feb. 10 at CHS. Tip-off is 7 p.m. CHS freshman Piper Kovacs defends Morgan’s Ava Johnson during the Panthers 52-32 victory at Cromwell High School on Jan. 31.
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The GHS Unified basketball team will host the CIAC Unified Basketball tournament on March 1.
The Glastonbury High School Unified Basketball season is entering the stretch run with some big events over the next month. Later this February the team will scrimmage for the final time during halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball game before concluding the season by hosting the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Unified Tournament in early March. GHS’s Unified Basketball is part of the Unified Sports program of the Special Olympics that combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities (or other developmental delays) on sports teams for training and competition. In 1992, as part of an effort to reach school-aged athletes, Connecticut Special Olympics formed a partnership with the CIAC to bring Unified Sports to Connecticut’s schools. GHS Head coach Katie Egan, along with assistants Paula Reis and Taylor Savage, lead a local team with a robust group of athletes and partners that have made for another successful season on the hardwood. Both Egan and Reis were on the ground level of the development of the Unified program at GHS and have seen it grow from a club team to an official athletic team. Reis said when the program first started over two decades ago there wasn’t enough space in the GHS gym, forcing the team to practice at Smith Middle School. Once they transitioned from a club team to an athletic team, the operation was moved to GHS and Reis said “it has made a world of difference.” Egan, who joined the program 15 years ago, said the numbers have stayed relatively strong. This year they have 16 athletes and 51 partners, who are GHS students that volunteer to mentor and guide the athletes. “GHS students really love helping out,” said Egan, who teaches physical education and health at the high school. “It is so fabulous to see; they run all the drills and make it meaningful.” The partners help the athletes with all the skills related to the game of basketball, working with various skill level groups on Wednesday afternoons at GHS. "To me, Unified Basketball is a place to be part of a community and work together with students with and without disabilities,” said GHS Unified partner Ben Coelho. Max Race, another Unified partner, added, "Unified Basketball means playing basketball and having fun, and I get to see friends." Along with Unified Basketball, GHS offers a variety of other opportunities for students with disabilities — including Unified Theater, Best Buddies, and Adaptive Physical Education classes to name a few. For Reis, who is heavily involved with the local Special Olympics, it is the relationships between the partners and the athletes that is the most rewarding part. “[The partners] are fully committed and dedicated, which makes all the difference,” stated Reis, who worked as a Special Education teacher in Glastonbury for decades. “They really get to know their athletes and they make them feel included.” For the partners, the experience is both rewarding and fulfilling. “Every time I go to Unified Basketball it puts a smile on all the kids’ faces participating,” said GHS Unified partner Jack Shaheen. “It’s a great way to bring the GHS community together, especially at the half times of the high school basketball games.” The athletes can range anywhere from high school freshman to post-graduate age (22) and Egan said over the years the coaches have seen a tremendous growth from the athletes on both a skill and social level while going through the program. On Feb. 17, the Unified team will take center stage during halftime of the boys’ varsity game against Lewis Mills, which is scheduled to tip-off at 6:45. Egan said there is an “amazing vibe” during the halftime scrimmages, which have happened during three other games this season. “The crowd is going wild. Everyone is having so much fun,” added Reis. The team will then partake in the Middletown Penguin Plunge on Feb. 25, helping raise money for the Special Olympics and the GHS Unified program. They will close the season with the CIAC sponsored Unified Basketball Tourney, welcoming 17 other schools to GHS for a day of competition and fun. Prior to the event starting, each team will be introduced with the school’s banner and a torch will be lit prior to mark the start of the festivities. GHS not only hosts the event, they are also heavily involved. The GHS cheer squad will be on cheering the Unified teams and the GHS baseball team will be volunteering to help run scoreboards and various other activities. The event will run from 2:30 - 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. GHS girls’ track and field won the conference championship for a fifth consecutive season. The Guardians will now compete at the Class LL championships this weekend.
Glastonbury High School girls’ track and field won the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) championship for a fifth consecutive season, edging a strong field at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Jan. 28. The Guardians scored 89 team points, holding off perennial powerhouses Bloomfield (87) and Windsor (61) to keep conference bragging rights in Glastonbury for a fifth straight winter. Head coach Brian Collins said that the competition at the conference championships was particularly tight this season and the Guardians had to “dig down deep” to keep the streak alive. “I couldn't have asked for anything more,” stated Collins. “They were aware of the teams in our conference and they knew it wasn’t a given. They stepped up and I couldn’t be more proud.” All told, the Guardians scored in 10 of the 15 events at the conference clash. Winning an individual conference crown was sophomore Brooke Strauss, who crossed the finish line first in the 1000 meters. The Guardians also had a pair of relay teams that took first. The 4x800 relay team of Jackie Caron, Alex Edwards, Mikayla Nedder, and Kelley MacElhiney won, along with the Sprint Medley Relay team of Edwards, Jenna Fradin, Jackie Dudus, and Annika Paluska. Many other Guardians had point-producing finishes that allowed the team to maintain their dominance over the conference. MacElhiney (3200 meters) placed second, while Ava Gattinella (3200 meters), Paluska (600 meters), and the 4x400 relay team of Dudus, Edwards, Paluska, and Riley Carroll had third place showings. Gattinella (600 meters), MacElhiney (1000 meters), and Strauss (1600 meters) each finished fourth, while Dudus (1000 meters), Lila Garbett (1600 meters), and Anna Morris (shot put) all placed fifth in their respective events. However, the conference title ultimately came down to the pole vault where a pair of GHS vaulters sealed the championship in the meet’s final event. Anna Hilary cleared a personal-best 10’00” to tie for second and Sarah Christina cleared 9’00” to finish fifth overall. Heading into the event, the Guardians were down by eight points before the efforts of Hilary and Christina netted them 10 team points. Collins credited the pair of vaulters for “coming up big at the exact right time.” Last season, the Guardians literally and figuratively ran away with the 2022 CCC championship, besting runner-up Bloomfield by 55 overall points. This year was different story as the team had to battle losing a pair of top-flight athletes in Zoe Spann-McDonald and Layla Spann-McDonald — who moved to Bloomfield in the summer — and various injuries throughout the winter. “This is a special team. We had to overcome a lot,” said Collins, who said many of the GHS athletes were following on their phones as the results were unfolding in real time. “There was tension, but they were confident. They had confidence in their teammates and knew where we needed to excel.” Since 2001, the program has been a pillar of consistency in the CCC, never placing outside the top three. 13 times they have won the conference championship; three times they have finished second, and six other times they placed third. Collins credits the student athlete for “buying into the system” and creating a team environment that is both competitive and encouraging. “We are fortunate to get the kids to put the time and effort in,” added Collins, who coaches the teams at GHS with Brian Gaudreau, Mark Alexander, Bob Gemske, Tom Cieslowski, and Rachel Peterson. “[The athletes] don’t rest on what they did last week or last month or three years ago. They are always looking to get better and give their best effort.” The GHS boys finished third overall at the CCC championships, finishing behind only Hall and Windsor, and ahead of 21 other schools. Harrison Krause placed second in the 3200 meters and fourth in the 1600 meters. Krause also teamed with Dominic Pena, Alexander Howarth, and Cameron Colletti for a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay. Pena, Deandre Williams, Jackson Boyd, and Benjamin Yalof placed fifth in the 4x400 relay. In the field, Jonathan Wihbey tied for third in the high jump and Tye Karpicki threw a personal-best 44’06” to place fourth in the shot put. Kalym Richards finished sixth in the long jump with a personal-best distance of 19’10.5” Next up for the both the girls and boys team is the Class LL championship on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, starting at 4 p.m. Here are the Rivereast Standouts of the Week for the week of Jan. 23-29:
Luke Randazzo - RHAM High School (Swimming & Diving): Randazzo is the ultimate dual threat in the pool, starring as both a swimmer and a driver for the local co-op team that features student athletes from RHAM, Manchester High School, and Coventry High School. Randazzo, a junior, has had first place finishes in both swimming and diving event this winter despite only picking up the sport two years ago. He is on track to be selected to the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) All-Academic team. Morganne Pineda - Portland High School (Basketball): Pineda scored a career-high 31 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists as Portland notched a solid victory, 56-36, over conference rival Lyme-Old Lyme. The Wildcats from Old Lyme had defeated the Highlanders in the first meeting on Dec. 16 at Portland High School, but the Highlanders got sweet revenge in the second meeting by winning by 20 points on the road. The Highlanders next home game will be Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Hale Ray at 7 p.m. Jake Martino - Bacon Academy High School (Track and Field): Martino won the shot put at both the Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) Developmental Meet on Jan. 20 and at the Jack Long ECC Select Meet on Jan. 29. During the ECC Developmental competition at …, Martino threw a personal-best 47’4.5”. Next up is the ECC Championship this Saturday, Feb. 4 at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London. Austin Cuthbertson – East Hampton High School (Basketball): Cuthbertson was impactful on both ends of the court as the Bellringers defeated 60-45 on Jan. 27. Cuthbertson, a sophomore, had 12 points and head coach John Antolini credited him for his work on the defensive end, registering five steals. It was a compete team win for East Hampton, who also got 22 points and nine rebounds from Brady Lynch and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Nate Ireland. The Bellringers are in the middle of a three-game road trip before returning to East Hampton High School for a home conference game against Morgan on Monday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. For questions or to submit and Athlete of the Week nomination, email joshhowardsports@gmail.com Bacon Academy junior Cara Shea directs the offense as Rocky Hill’s Katie Harding plays defense. The Bobcats would rally to beat the Terriers 51-45 at Rocky Hill High School on Jan. 24
For the first 16 minutes against Rocky Hill, Bacon Academy girls’ basketball didn’t look like themselves. The Bobcats, who entered the contest 13-0, trailed by as many as a dozen points in the second quarter and were down 28-19 at the break before rallying in the second half to win 51-45 at Rocky Hill High School, earning their 14th win in as many games. The tale of two halves came on the second night of back-to-back games for the Bobcats who had defeated Amistad at Bacon Academy High School the previous night. Whether it was fatigue or lack of execution, Bacon had trouble finding their footing on the road. The home Terriers made the extra pass, assisting on nearly every bucket and running a press defense in the first half that frustrated the Bobcats, causing multiple turnovers. Head coach Kevin Fennell said the team used the halftime break to regroup. “I think they got a little more focused and they started sharing the ball more,” added Fennell. “We missed a few shots [in the first half] that we may have made in other games.” The tide began to turn on the first possession of the third quarter when junior Cara Shea canned a triple from the top of the arc, prompting a 15-2 scoring spurt for the Bobcats. Five different Bacon players scored during the third quarter scoring run, which put the Bobcats up 34-30 with 3:03 to play in the third. “When we share the ball we get better looks and the shots start falling,” stated Fennell. “Getting higher percentage shots has been important for us all season.” Fennell was pleased with the offense, yet he said it was the other end of the court that allowed them to chip away at the deficit and eventually take a lead they would not surrender. “We challenged them a little defensively and I think [our players] responded to it,” added Fennell, whose team increased the tempo in the second half, leading to several transition buckets. Sophomore Katelyn Novak led the defensive charge, registering six steals and blocking five shots. Novak added nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the win. “Katelyn has been willing to do whatever is asked of her. Whether it is a timely three or a rebound or a block shot or coming up with a steal; she is just an all-around basketball player,” Fennell said of the multifaceted Novak. “She applied herself in a lot of ways tonight and was a huge part of that comeback.” After being held to two points in the first quarter, senior captain Marissa Nudd heated up over the final three quarters to score a team-high 17 points. Nudd, a Southern Connecticut State University-commit, also grabbed eight rebounds and sealed the game with a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats up 51-43 with under a minute to play in regulation. It was also the next generation of Bobcats that made a big impact in the second half. Clinging to a one-point lead late in the third quarter, freshman Alannah Baehr pulled up and sank a 3-pointer to end the quarter and give the Bobcats a 39-35 lead heading into the final eight minutes. Baehr finished with nine points, seven coming in the second half. “It’s been fun to watch Alannah’s progression,” stated Fennell. “She has been paying attention to the decisions she makes in different spots and she has been recognizing what works and what doesn’t. She certainly has a high level of potential.” Rocky Hill made a final push in the fourth, going on a 7-0 scroing run behind a pair of layups from freshman Katie Harding, who scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. But it was too little, too late as Nudd grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled before making the game-clinching free throws. Prior to the contest, the Terriers had won six of their previous seven games and head coach James McKinnon said the team’s first half performance was one of the best halves of basketball they had played all year. However, they were unable to maintain their same defensive pressure and offensive fireworks in the second half. “Their pressure and height got to us,” McKinnon said of Bacon’s turnaround. “They got a lot more deflections in the second half and they out-rebounded us in the second half. They are 14-0 for a reason.” During the first 14 games, the Bobcats outscored their opponents by an average of 23 points per game. It’s been a terrific start for Fennell, who was previously an assistant coach with the program and was the head coach of the boys’ basketball program at the school from 2008-2013. Following the win over Rocky Hill, Fennell and the team suffered their first setback, losing consecutive games to Ledyard and East Lyme to bring their overall record to 14-2. They will now start a three-game home stand on Monday, Feb. 6 when they welcome Norwich Free Academy to Bacon High for a 6 p.m. tip. Bacon Academy High School will again host the Matt Bishel Bobcat Classic, a multi-school wrestling tournament, this Saturday, Feb. 4.
The annual tournament, which starts at 9:00 a.m., will have continuous matches throughout the day and include 16-person (double elimination) brackets in each weight class. Bacon Academy’s wrestling head coach Drew DeBowsky organized the event, which is now in its 14th year. “If anybody wants to come out and watch that day or even learn more about the sport it is a great opportunity to see a lot of good quality wrestling,” DeBowsky said of the upcoming tourney, which will feature 14 teams. When the wrestling tournament started it was originally named the Bobcat Classic before it was renamed the Matt Bishel Bobcat Classic a dozen years ago. Bishel, a 2007 graduate of Bacon Academy High School, was a four-year wrestler at the school and soccer player at the school. At the time of his passing in 2011, he was just three months away from graduating from Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in biology. All admission and any other monetary donations collected will benefit the Matt Bishel Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2011, which helps send student athletes to wrestling camps and seminars along with continued education in the sport of wrestling. DeBowksy, who also owns The Jewelry Connection in Colchester, said the local community has chipped in to support the cause with donations. Restaurants and other businesses have provided gift cards and other monetary donations. Food items have also been donated that will be sold at the tournament. Proceeds from concession stand items sold will help support the wrestling team with equipment costs and other essentials. DeBowsky, a 1983 graduate of Bacon Academy, has been heavily involved with coaching wrestling locally and is in his second year leading the Bobcats. He inherited the program the season after the COVID cancellation in 2021 and had only two wrestlers signed up. He was forced to rebuild the program on the fly, quickly increasing the number of wrestlers to nearly 20. “The guys that have come on have learned quickly and been competitive. It’s been really good,” DeBowksy said. “There have been a few kids that had done youth when they were much younger and I have been able to spark that interest to get them back at the high school level.” Captaining the Bobcats on the mat this winter are senior Connor Tuttle and junior Carson Brown. Brown finished as the runner-up in the 152-pound division at the state championships a year ago, helping the team placed ninth overall at the Class S state finals. DeBowsky said that both of his captains have been great leaders and are fully committed to the program. “They go to camps and offseason clubs and they have been able to come in and help with getting guys up to speed,” added DeBowsky. One of DeBowsky’s goals since taking over the program is to rejuvenate the relationship between the high school team and town’s youth wrestling by connecting more with Colchester Youth Wrestling (CYW), non-profit organization that formed in 2000 that aims to introduce the youth in Colchester and surrounding towns to the sport of wrestling by providing a disciplined and competitive program for kids to learn and develop wrestling skills, self-confidence and the ideals of good sportsmanship. Bishel started his wrestling career in the CYW before and DeBowsky said the two programs are once again working together in an effort to increase the interest in wrestling locally. DeBowksy and his Bobcats will be one of a dozen teams from Connecticut that will be competing in the local tournament. Portland High School and Newtown High School (a top-ten team in the state) will also be competing, along with a team from Massachusetts and another from Rhode Island. Awards will be given to the top-three finishers in each weight class and top-three teams, along with a Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney. The cost to attend the daylong tournament is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Both the boys and girls ski racing teams at GHS placed top-ten at Southington Mountain on Jan. 18, but it was an impressive feat by Alex Bulger that highlighted the night.
Glastonbury High School ski racer Alex Bulger placed outside the top-ten during the Guardians competition on Jan.18, yet it was his memorable performance on his second run that left an impression on the spectators at Southington Mountain. Bulger, who finished his first run with a time of 23.56, lost one of his skis during the early stages of his second run and was forced to travel the rest of the way down the mountain using just one ski. The result was a herculean effort, crossing the finish line on one leg with a time of 24.80. GHS head coach Tom Zelek called Bulger’s balancing act “quite remarkable.” “As I was watching him from the bottom of the race hill I was perplexed as to why the usual flawless ski racing form he displays was not in evidence. Suddenly I realized he was only on one ski,” recalled Zelek. “Alex maneuvered amazingly down the rest of the race hill, navigating ten more gates on one ski before crossing the finish line.” Zelek added that the fans in attendance were all cheering in unison when Bulger reached the bottom of the mountain. Bulger’s quick problem solving prevented disqualification and allowed him to finish with a time that was less than a second slower than his first time. It also proved to be the fastest time of any Glastonbury skier besides himself on the night and was less than three seconds behind the best overall run of the night. "When my ski fell off I had to make a snap decision,” stated Bulger. “Either go back and put the ski back on or continue to go down on one ski to get as good a time as possible for the team.” He chose the latter and the result was an awe-inspiring run and a potential story for the grandkids. During the difficult situation, Bulger was able to lean on his plenty of experience on the slopes. He has been skiing since the age of two and began skiing in New Hampshire for the Mount Sunapee team when he was six — competing in both the slalom and giant slalom. Zelek added that Bulger normally places top-five during races when he has the luxury of using both skis and that he recently started competing in moguls, allowing him to rebound quickly when he lost his ski going through a relatively deep rut caused by the conditions. “The fact that he did it on his second run means that the course was in much more challenging shape because over 100 racers had already gone down it creating a lot of ruts and difficult terrain,” stated Zelek. Bulger also said he found inspiration from one of his coaches and mentors in New Hampshire, Jason Lalla, who has always skied on one ski. “I think in the moment he was my inspiration to ski down on one ski," Bulger said of Lalla, who was a gold medalist in Giant Slalom the 1998 at the Paralympic Winter Games in Japan and later added silver and bronze medals at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. Bulger’s memorable performance highlighted another solid performance for the GHS skiers. The boys’ team finished the night in 7th place of the 13 teams competing. Along with Bulger placing 13th overall, senior captain Nathan Zimbelman and freshman Leyton Bulger also had Top-25 finishes. Rounding out the scoring for the boys varsity team were freshmen Kory Wells and Alex Karwowski and senior Tim Kohlun, all finishing in the top 100 out of the 213 boys competing. The girls’ team finished in 8th place overall amongst the 12 teams competing. Sophomore Ainsley Latz led the way by placing 19th of the 179 girls racing. Freshman Clementine Citroen and junior Eva Giliberto finished in the top 50 of everyone racing on this night. Rounding out the top GHS finishers were Lizzy Stutz, Kaitlyn Schaffner, Julia Wold and Mallory Jennings. Zelek has been impressed with how his team has competed throughout the first two races, saying they have adjusted to the adverse conditions because of a lack of natural snow. “Mother nature has not cooperated,” added Zelek. “The ski area has done the best they could but the courses deteriorate rapidly throughout the race because of the thin layer of snow, warm temperatures and soft snow.” Glastonbury High School senior Gisel Astiasaran sets to launch a 3-point shot in a win over Northwest Catholic last Thursday at GHS. Astiasaran made the shot, which was part of a 9-0 Guardians scoring run in the fourth quarter.
For the second time in as many weeks, Glastonbury girls’ basketball got revenge on a conference opponent. Sophomore guard Maddy Handrahan scored a career-high 27 points as the Guardians rallied to defeat Northwest Catholic 52-48 at GHS on Jan. 26. It was the team’s 12th win in the last 13 games. After starting the season with consecutive losses to Conard and Northwest Catholic in December, Glastonbury defeated each of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) foes in the January rematches. “We are executing a little better than we were early in the season and some of the girls have more defined roles now,” head coach Chris Vozzolo said. After being held to two points in the first quarter, Handrahan caught fire over the next three quarters, scoring at will and taking over during a second half rally that saw the Guardians outscore the visiting Lions 17-12 in the decisive fourth quarter. Handrahan said the team knew they would have to be better in the second half to defeat a Northwest Catholic team that downed the Guardians 39-34 in the season opener on Dec. 13. “It was hard coming off two losses to begin the season, but we knew it wouldn't be the same the rest of the season,” said Handrahan. “It was the first game of the season, but it was their first game of the season too so it is no excuse. Last time we let it go in the second half so we really wanted to emphasize the second half.” Trailing 40-37 early in the fourth quarter, Glastonbury heated up from beyond the arc and knocked down three constructive 3-pointers during a 9-0 run midway through final frame. Lily Woodworth canned a triple to tie the game before Handrahan hit a contested step back three with 5:10 left in regulation, giving the Guardians their first lead since early in the second quarter. On the following possession, Gisel Astiasaran sank a 3-pointer to increase the Guardians lead 46-40 before clutch foul shooting and a stiff defense secured the victory. Astiasaran, a senior, scored five of her nine points in the fourth quarter. Vozzolo called Astiasaran the team’s “Swiss army knife.” “Gisel is an unbelievable kid and she is super intuitive,” added Vozzolo. “She makes plays at the right times” One of the biggest differences in the rematch wins over Conard and Northwest Catholic was the team’s ability to play well down the stretch. In the fourth quarter against Northwest Catholic, the Guardians made six of eight free throws and created turnovers in crucial moments. Vozzolo said these tightly-contest games are great preparation for postseason play. “I’m proud of our girls for gritting it out.” added Vozzolo. “A win like this is necessary and it will help us down the road. It really prepares us for a tough CCC tourney and a very tough LL tournament.” Handrahan agreed, saying the team puts in extra work in practice for these types of games. “It’s good for us to get these really close games,” added Handrahan, who hit four three-pointers. “The fourth quarter should be our strongest quarter; we should be just as strong in the fourth as we are in the first. We just have to that same work ethic and be smart and take good shots.” Handrahan provided a bulk of the offense, yet said it was the team’s defensive effort that sealed the game. She credited senior teammates Diekolola Awofala and Alyssa Healy for limiting Northwest Catholic’s dynamic freshman tandem of Maeve Staunton and Abby Casper, who were both held under their season scoring averages against Glastonbury. After playing a big role as a freshman, Handrahan has taken her game to another level this winter. She said she was thankful for 2022-graduates and last year’s captains Kiley Feeney and Sydney Kehl for showing her the ropes and allowing her to play through some freshman jitters. “We had amazing seniors and I was so lucky how my teammates took me in so quickly,” added Handrahan, who said the best part of the team this season is the unity. “Everyone has a role on this team. This is a really good win for us.” After defeating Middletown (61-35) on Monday, the Guardians stand at 13-3 with a game at Wethersfield High School slated for Friday, Feb. 3. Tip-off is 6:45. WHS junior Mackenzie Mori, pictured playing against East Haven on Jan. 12, was named as an Athlete of the Week after racking up a double-double against Bristol Central last week.
Mackenzie Mori - Wethersfield High School (Basketball): Mori had 24 points and 13 rebounds as Wethersfield defeated Bristol Central 57-48 on Jan. 24. Mori, a junior, then dropped 16 points as the Eagles celebrated Senior Night with a win over Hartford Public on Jan. 27. Senior Vanessa Venditti led the Senior Night charge with 26 points and fellow seniors Anna Griffin and Bella Tomaino each chipped in a dozen points. The trio of seniors were celebrated prior to the tip-off and the team will next host Glastonbury on Friday, Feb. 3 at 6:45 p.m. Tyler Carlstrom - Rocky Hill High School (Basketball): Carlstrom scored 10 points as the Terriers defeated Plainville, 41-35, in a defensive battle on Jan. 23. First-year head coach Ken Borton called Carlstrom a “role model on and off the court” and praised him and fellow senior Yaz Aftab with helping mentor a young roster. The Terriers have a road game against Newington on Tuesday, Feb. 7 before returning home for a battle with Wethersfield on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Both Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) games tip-off at 6:45 p.m. Matt Gish - Cromwell High School (Wrestling): Gish won all three of his matches at the Arrigoni Classic Wrestling Tournament at Portland High School on Jan. 21. Gish, a sophomore who is one of three CHS wrestlers that compete with the Highlanders of Portland High School, also placed 2nd in the 152-pound bracket at the Highlander Invitational on Jan 28. Katie Bohlke - Newington High School (Track): Bohlke placed 4th overall at the Bethel Indoor Pentathlon, finishing with 2,482 overall points in the five-event challenge on Jan. 21. Bohlke, a junior, won the 800 meters with a time of 2:20.95 — nearly ten seconds faster than the runner up — and tied for 2nd in the high jump with a distance of 1.47 meters. All three competitors that finished ahead of Bohlke are seniors, making her the early favorite for next year’s competition. Kyle Levesque - Xavier High School (Wrestling): Levesque was one of 10 athletes out of a field of 450 wrestlers to receive a Scholar Athlete Achievement Award at the Clash in Wisconsin Tournament in January. Levesque, a junior, and the nine other athletes were selected for excelling beyond the wrestling mat. Each athlete received a trophy, a letter of congratulations, and was recognized on the center mat during the two-day tournament. Seniors #14 Kate Oostendorp, #33 Christina DeNovellis, #12 Alyssa Gau, and Abigail Boutin (not pictured) are leading a girls’ basketball team at Rocky Hill that has a mixture of experience and youth.
For the first 16 minutes, Rocky Hill High School girls’ basketball had undefeated Bacon Academy on the ropes. The Terriers led by as many as a dozen points in the first half and held a 28-19 advantage at the break before the unbeaten Bobcats rallied over the final 16 minutes to win, 51-45, on Jan. 24 at RHHS. Rocky Hill head coach James McKinnon called the team’s performance in the first half one of the best they played all season, comparing it to a first half they played against Wethersfield on Dec. 22 “We were looking for the open teammate and we were able to finish. That’s how we practice; we always look for the extra pass,” McKinnon said of the team’s effort in the first half. Both ends of the court were clicking for the Terriers in the early stages, sharing the ball on offense and causing double-digit turnovers behind a relentless press defense. Freshman Katie Harding scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the first half and senior Christina DeNovellis scored all six of her points before the break. Despite the difference in grade level, Harding and DeNovellis have a noticeable rapport on the court. The connection between the prolific pair was on full display in the second quarter when Harding passed the ball to DeNovellis in the high post before cutting towards the basket and receiving a perfectly placed bounce pass under the bucket to complete the give-and-go, providing the Terriers a 21-9 lead. Freshman point guard Kelsey LaMay led on offense that assisted on nearly every bucket in the first half. McKinnon praised LaMay for her ability to run the offense, saying she has stepped right into the role of court general. “It’s a blessing as a coach. I can sleep easy knowing she is bringing the ball up court,” stated McKinnon, who added that the coaching staff preaches, “The more passes, the more points.” A 15-2 run to start the second half allowed Bacon to turn the game around and take a lead they would not surrender. “Their pressure and height got to us,” McKinnon said of the second half. “They are 14-0 for a reason.” Senior Marissa Nudd, who has committed to play at Southern Connecticut State University, scored 17 to lead the Bobcats, who outscored Rocky Hill 32-17 over the final 16 minutes. Rocky Hill entered the contests having won 8 of 11 games, which included a six-game winning streak that spanned from Dec. 30 to Jan. 20. DeNovellis, Alyssa Gau, Kate Oostendorp, and Abigail Boutin are Rocky Hill’s four court captains. McKinnon called the foursome “pure leaders.” “They never take a drill off and they do everything we ask of them,” added McKinnon. “They ask the questions that the younger kids don’t want to ask, which helps everyone at practice.” With a heavy mixture of seniors and freshmen, McKinnon said the team has blended together from having played summer league together. “It helped build the comradery and connection,” added McKinnon. Despite the loss to Bacon, McKinnon said the game can go a long way for a program that has 28 total players this winter. “We are not afraid of anyone. We’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime,” stated McKinnon. Rocky Hill closed the week with another tough loss to powerhouse Windsor, 54-33. Freshman Madisyn Aurigemma led the Terriers with a dozen points as the team fell to 8-5 on the season. Next up is a pair of home games against Hartford Public (Friday, Feb. 3 / 4:40 p.m.) and Newington (Tuesday, Feb. 7 / 6:45 p.m.). Now in his third year leading the program, McKinnon likes both his current mix and the direction the program is headed. “This whole group has been a joy to coach. The best part is that I get to teach them every day and they work really hard,” stated McKinnon, who teaches at Griswold Middle School. “I had most of these girls in class in the seventh grade, so it is so great to have them in practice every day and to see them improve.” |
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April 2024
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