Collage of some of the top 2022 CIAC Girls Basketball Championship games at Mohegan Sun the weekend of March 19-20 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville: From left, East Hartford’s Shailyn Pinkney and Wilton’s Leah Martins (Class LL); Sacred Heart Academy’s Carina Ciampi and St. Joseph’s Katherine Rudini (Class MM); Newington’s Lily Ferguson and Notre Dame of Fairfield’s Aizhanique Mayo (Class L).
Hearst Connecticut File photos / Illustration Sean Patrick BowleyBreaking down the 2022 CIAC girls basketball state championship games:
All games at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Tickets: $10 per session (day/night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office
CLASS LL
WHO — No. 12 Wilton (17-8) vs No. 2 East Hartford (23-3)
WHEN — Sunday, 6:15 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network (subscription)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Wilton: Def. Trumbull 48-30; Ludlowe W 41-37(OT); Hillhouse 44-34; Enfield 48-37; East Hartford: Bye; Def. Glastonbury 44-32; New London 61-47; Middletown 67-38
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY — Wilton: 2nd appearance, won 2015 Class LL title over South Windsor. East Hartford: First appearance
KEY PLAYERS: East Hartford: Shailyn Pinkney, Sr. 5-9; Kayla Henry, Sr. 5-11; Nia Edens, So. 5-10; Wilton: Elizabeth Copley, Sr. 5-9; Ashleigh Masterson, So. 5-9; Leah Martins, Sr. 5-7
OUTLOOK: Call them the underdogs or Cinderella or whatever you want, but Wilton is the only double-digit seed to reach a championship game this year with every other finalist being a three seed or higher. Waiting to stop the Warriors’ magical run is the No. 4 team in the GameTimeCT Poll and CCC champion, East Hartford. Shailyn Pinkney (Seton Hall commit) was the GameTimeCT MVP last season and is among the contenders again after a stellar senior season. Wilton has done well slowing teams down this tournament but the Hornets have proven they are comfortable playing games in the 30s as much as they are playing games in 60s.
SCOTT’S PICK: East Hartford
CLASS L
WHO — No. 3 Notre Dame-Fairfield (22-3) vs No. 1 Newington (24-2)
WHEN — Saturday, 6:15 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (subscription)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Newington: Bye; Def. Bristol Central 68-31; Guilford 54-45; E.O. Smith 35-34; Notre Dame: Bye; Def. North Haven 59-17; Pomperaug 57-41; Simsbury 39-28
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY — Newington: 2nd appearance. Lost 1993 Class LL title game to Southington. Notre Dame-Fairfield: 7th appearance. The Lancers have never won a state title, last appearing in the 2013 and 2016 Class M finals where they lost to Cromwell in both games.
KEY PLAYERS — Newington: Lilly Ferguson, Sr. 5-10; Karissa Zocco, Sr. 5-3; Marlie Zocco, Sr. 5-4; Notre Dame: Aizhanique Mayo, Sr. 5-9; Sarah Macary, Sr. 5-11; Kayla Tilus, Sr. 5-11
OUTLOOK: There was chatter in preseason and then as folks saw how good Newington and Notre Dame were, it grew louder as both teams spent time this season ranked No. 1 in the GameTimeCT poll. Notre Dame is currently ranked No. 1 with Newington at No. 8. Girls basketball fans wanted this game all year. Aside from the teams being excellent, this game features two of the state’s top players in Lilly Ferguson (UMass commit) of Newington and Aizhanique Mayo (Marquette commit) of Notre Dame. Notre Dame also has forward Sarah Macary (Franklin Pierce) and Kayla Tilus (LIU) going to play in college. The key for Newington will be how the players around Ferguson play. When the Nor’easters are at their best, Ferguson is scoring and also kicking it out for 3-point shooters Marlie and Karissa Zocco.
SCOTT’S PICK: Notre Dame
CLASS MM
WHO — No. 2 St. Joseph (24-2) vs No. 1 Sacred Heart Academy (25-1)
WHEN — Sunday, 3 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (subscription)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Sacred Heart Academy: Bye; Def. Kolbe Cathedral 53-39; Berlin 34-29; St. Paul 50-18; St. Joseph: Bye; Def. Suffield 77-35; Ledyard 67-58; Hand 68-45
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: St. Joseph: 4th appearance. Won two titles with the last coming in Class M in 2015 against Cromwell. Sacred Heart Academy: 4th appearance
KEY PLAYERS — Sacred Heart Academy: Rosa Rizzitelli, Sr. 5-7; Carina Ciampi, Sr. 5-7; Meghan Kirck, So. 5-5; St. Joseph: Dennaye Hinds, Sr. 6-0; Kirsten Rodriguez, Sr. 6-0; Kate Rudini, Sr. 5-9
OUTLOOK: Like Newington-Notre Dame, fans have been eyeing this matchup since the preseason. Now that it is here, it is even better than anticipated with two teams that create unique challenges for their opponent. SHA likes to run and shoot 3-pointers and the Sharks come at you with waves of substitutions that wear down many teams. Sharks have a balanced attack and any number of players can lead in scoring, including players off the bench, making them one of the most difficult teams in the state to matchup against. That speed and depth could be a huge factor on the big court at Mohegan Sun where you spend a little more energy than you think each time up and down the court. The Cadets play fast as well but their strength is getting the ball inside to one of Dennaye Hinds (6-0), Kirsten Rodriguez (6-0) or Izzy Casucci (6-1). SHA is the No. 3 team in the GameTimeCT poll with St. Joe’s at No. 6.
SCOTT’S PICK: St. Joseph
CLASS M
WHO — No. 2 Bacon Academy (23-3) vs No. 1 Holy Cross (26-0)
WHEN — Sunday, 10 a.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network (subscription)
HOW THEY GOT HERE — Holy Cross: Bye; Def. Watertown 83-60; New Fairfield 62-50; Valley Regional 57-50; Bacon Academy: Bye; Def. Griswold 77-34; Cromwell 45-29; East Hampton 30-26
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY — Bacon: 7th appearance. Won twice with the last one coming in 2012. Holy Cross: 6th appearance. Only title came in 2007 against Career in Class M.
KEY PLAYERS: Holy Cross: Mya Zaccagnini, Jr. 5-6; Cayla Howard, Sr. 5-9; Nyasia Smith, Sr. 5-8; Bacon Academy: Marissa Nudd, Jr. 5-11; Valerie Luizzi, Sr. 5-8
OUTLOOK: Holy Cross is the only unbeaten team in the state with only four teams (Mercy 55-51,Torrington 63-61, New Fairfield 62-50 and Valley in the Class M semis 67-60) having been within 20 points of The Crusaders. This game should not be short on offense with both teams looking to get out and run and both routinely scoring north of 60 points. Each team has multiple threats with Marissa Nudd and Valerie Luizzi leading Bacon and Cayla Howard and point guard Mya Zaccagnini doing most of the damage for the Crusaders. How the role players around the four top players play will likely determine the outcome in this one.
SCOTT’S PICK: Holy Cross
CLASS S
WHO: No. 3 Coventry (19-6) vs No. 1 Thomaston (21-4)
WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network (subscription)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Thomaston: Bye; Def. Coginchaug 50-28; Gilbert 43-25; Bolton 48-42; Coventry: Bye; Def. Lyman Mem. 63-30; Housatonic 40-25; Immaculate 39-36
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Thomaston: 9th appearance. Won three times, last winning Class S in 2015. Coventry: 5th appearance. Won Class S in 1988.
KEY PLAYERS: Thomaston: Emma Sanson, Sr. 5-7; Ava Harkness, So. 5-10; Coventry: Charlotte Jordan, Jr. 5-7; Anaka Eaton, So. 5-11
OUTLOOK: It is not championship weekend until Thomaston and coach Robert McMahon kick things off. Since 2013, Thomaston has won Class S twice in five championship game appearances, last making the Class S final in 2017. The Bears have won 17 of their last 18 games with the only loss coming to Gilbert in the Berkshire League semifinals. Two of Thomaston’s losses this year came to Notre Dame-Fairfield and Hand in the Notre Dame Christmas Tournament. Coventry has won with defense, only allowing two opponents to break 50 this season. Coventry will be relying on junior Charlotte Jordan to carry them but she will need help, likely coming from 5-foot-11 sophomore Anak Eaton.
SCOTT’S PICK: Thomaston