Rocky Hill Girls’ Basketball Getting Defensive

Last season, the Rocky Hill girls’ basketball team finished with a very respectable 14-8 record and won a tournament game in Peter Egan’s last season as head coach of the Terriers. Now, Allyson Toulouse assumes Egan’s vacated seat on the bench and is hoping to help the lady Terriers make the next step towards a title. The first year head coach is putting her own stamp on the basketball program, while maintaining the traditionally fundamentals that are a staple of the Terrier girls.
 
“The style of play from last year's coaching to this year is very similar,” Toulouse said, “having a base that {the player} are already comfortable with has helped the process immensely.”
 
Toulouse wants to combine the ideology of the last coaching administration with the defensive mentality and fundamentals that she acquired from years of playing.
 
“I am a big defensive minded coach. I grew up with that mentality when I was a player both in high school and college,” Toulouse, who is East Hampton High Schools all-time leader in points and steals, said, “I am a strong believer that defense is the most important part of basketball, and if you can defend, the offense will take care of itself.”
 
Toulouse learned those defensive principles while in high school and then honed her defensive craft while starring as a guard at Southern Connecticut State University. While at SCSU, she was a key component on the Owls 2006-2007 national championship team, who were led by legendary women’s basketball coach Joe Frager. Frager coached the importance of team defense and Toulouse is now implementing those same defensive principals into the Rocky Hill girls program.
 
“We create our offense from our defense,” Toulouse said about this season’s squad, “These girls have responded very well to that challenge, and I think we are going to be one of the toughest defensive teams in our conference this year.”
 
Rocky Hill has four seniors that are helping lead the defensive charge, including forward Kirstyn Arcata and guards Valerie Kobialka and Kraymer Bond. The team is off to a 3-4 start and the tenacious Terriers’ defense is molding into the defense that Toulouse envisioned, holding two of their opponents under 33 points this season. Now that her defensive philosophies are taking shape, Toulouse hopes to tackle the second goal of her three-part plan.
 
“November through January 1st we have certain goals, then those goals change as we get into the second half of our regular season.” the first year coach said, “Finally, I evaluate those goals, and we shape them to reflect what goals we want to accomplish in our post season.”
 
The team is in the midst of a three game road trip, but they return home Tuesday, January 14th to host Tolland. Come see the new-look Terriers’ defense in action at Rocky Hill High School. The game tips at 7p.m.
 
Girls Basketball Round-Up
 
Wethersfield Winning With Defense
 
The Wethersfield Eagles started the season 1-3, but have since won their last two games to even their record at 3-3. Their latest victory was a 55-23 pasting of the Fermi Falcons. After struggling defensively in a loss to Weaver (87-40), Michelle Libby’s Eagles have tightened the reins on defense and held their last two opponents to 27 and 23 point, respectively.
 
Greenalch Leads Newington to Fourth Straight Win
 
After splitting their first two games, the Newington Indians have won four in a row, thanks to Stasha Greenalch’s domination on both ends of the court. During the four game winning streak, Greenalch is averaging 21 points and eight steals per game, including an amazing 12 steal performance in a 20-point victory over Bloomfield.
 
Cromwell Back to Championship Form
 
The Cromwell Panthers have won four consecutive games, after having their 29 game winning streak snapped earlier this season. The defending champions have defeated their last two opponents by a combined 60 points and the potent Panthers’ offense has not been held under 40 points in any game this season.