The Starting Five: Local Athletes of the Week

Alexa Grenier - Wethersfield (Basketball): Grenier scored a dozen points as the Eagles spread the ball around in a 55-44 victory over New Milford in the opening round of the Class L state tournament on March 1. The senior added 13 rebounds and a pair of blocks as Vanessa Venditti also scored 12 points and Ella Alger chipped in 11. 
           
Nicole Partridge - Wethersfield (Ice Hockey): Partridge was named the Player of the Game, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists as the Avon-Wethersfield girls’ co-op ice hockey team won the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) with a 3-2 victory over Conard. Partridge is one of three WHS athletes on the Nighthawks team that made All-Conference, joining Bella Bonfiglio and Sophia Nower. Bonfiglio also had a goal and two assists in the conference championship game and Nower doled out three helpers. Southington, Newington. RHAM, Lewis Mills, and Coventry are also part of the seven-team co-op.   
           
Gavin Gray - Newington (Basketball): Gray has been a major contributor on both ends of the court for a Nor’easters team that won 11 regular season games and qualified for the Division II state tournament. The junior is capable of filling up the net on any given night, evidence by his 29 and 27 scoring games this winter.  
           
Shalyn Smith - Middletown (Basketball): Smith scored a career-high 25 points as the Blue Dragons eliminated Stamford 70-51 in the second round of the Class LL tourney on March 3. The sophomore led a balanced scoring effort for Middletown, who also got double-digit contributions from Shadae Bushay (18), Tyah Pettaway (13), and Jada Bryant (10).
 
Lilly Ferguson - Newington (Basketball): Ferguson scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, both team-highs, as the Nor’easters breezed by Bristol Central, 68-31, in the second round of the Class L state tournament. The senior was one of 10 Newington players to score in the game and one of three players, along with Bela Cucuta (12) and Selah Prignano (11), to score in double-figures.