Last Friday’s meeting between Law and Sheehan was not only a matchup between a pair of Southern Connecticut Conference surprises, but also two potential Class M state title contenders.

Sheehan won Friday’s game 62-52, splitting the season series with the Eagles.

Law coach Heather Saucier looked at the loss as a positive one, which snapped a 10-game winning streak and consequently, Saucier hopes, will keep Law hungry.

Law posted an 11-11 mark last season and lost to Montville in the opening round of the Class M state tournament. Led by Casey Dulin and complemented by a solid, but young, supporting cast, the Eagles are now 14-5 and can be considered a legitimate challenger for a Class M title.

“I think we surprised some people,” Saucier said. “But these kids put an enormous amount of work in the offseason and I really think that hard work pays off.”

As for the Titans, senior Bre Butler highlights an experienced Sheehan squad that is 15-4. It’s been quite a turnaround considering the Titans finished 8-14 last season after being ousted by Berlin in the Class M state tournament’s opening round.

“I still think we have a lot to prove,” Sheehan coach Mike Busillo said. “I have a lot of respect for those South-West Conference and those Fairfield County Conference teams that are in Class M. I have respect for those Central Connecticut Conference teams in M. Sometimes it depends on what kind of draw you get. But I always tell my girls, there’s no one we can’t play with. There’s no one we’re afraid of.”

Last year’s Class M champion Bacon Academy has moved up to Class L, along with runner-up Berlin. A perennial powerhouse in Kolbe Cathedral may be the Class M favorite. Brookfield (15-3), along with Windham (the Whippets handed Bacon Academy its only loss this season), are contenders, too.

And now Sheehan and Law certainly deserve to be in the conversation among those teams.

“They’re a good team,” said Saucier of Sheehan. “This could be a Class M championship, potentially.”