Each Thursday the Register will take a look at a former area standout, who is now playing in college.

Player: Kerry Wallack

College: Rhode Island

Year: Freshman

Height: 5-11

Position: Guard

High school: Hand

Stats: 32.9 minutes per game, 6.7 rebouds per game, 10 steals, 6.2 points per game 

For more on Wallack, click here.

Their shot selection was poor at times.

That, however, was the only downfall when critiquing Lyman Hall’s exciting backcourt duo of Felicia Ferraro and Olivia Sutherland Tuesday night.
Sure, the Trojans (4-9) fell to Cheshire for the second time this season and may not make the state tournament. But they certainly have one of the best backcourts in the area with those two. Lyman Hall lives and dies with them.

Their aggressive and fearless play creates havoc on both ends of the floor and Ferraro and Sutherland helped Lyman Hall cut a 20-point deficit to 58-53 against the Rams Tuesday.

The pint-sized guards are very similar and can play both guard spots. Both are exceptionally quick and can handle pressure. Ferraro (5 foot, 5 inches) and Sutherland (5-4) can get to the basket and crash the boards. They create opportunities for their teammates (Noelle Thurston’s three 3-pointers in the first half Tuesday is a perfect example).

Ferraro, the better scorer of the two, is averaging 18.1 points per game. Sutherland is chipping in with 9.7 points per game.

West Haven’s Mackenzie Farquharson has developed into one of the top offensive threats in the SCC this season.

The 5-foot-9 junior is averaging 17.8 points per game, which is third in the league behind Wilbur Cross’ Aaliyah Robinson and Mercy’s Amber Bepko.

Farquharson’s versatility has caused matchup problems for the opposition. She’s tough and strong enough to play inside, and athletic enough to step out or go to the basket.

She poured in a career-high 30 points earlier this month against Sacred Heart Academy and has the Westies two wins away from their first state tournament appearance in three years.

Each Thursday the Register will take a look at a former area standout, who is now playing in college.

Player: Casey Dulin

College: Marist

Year: Freshman

Height: 5-10

Position: Guard

High school: Law

Stats: 4.3 ppg, 12 steals, 8.7 min, .605 FG%

For more on Dulin, click here

Sadie Edwards and Amber Bepko led No. 1 Mercy to a 66-62 win over No. 2 Hillhouse. Read the game story here.

After missing the first six games of the season with a broken hand, Haddam-Killingworth senior center Emily Anderson has given the Cougars a big lift inside since she returned. She's averaging 24.5 points and 10 rebounds per game.


Check out these numbers...
vs. Coginchaug - 10 points

vs. Portland 32 points

vs. East Hampton 26 points and 12 rebounds

vs. Hyde 30 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks

SWC


Newtown at Bunnell, ppd. to Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.

Stratford at Oxford, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.

Immaculate at Lauralton Hall, ppd., TBA

SCC interdivision

Mercy at Hillhouse, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Hamden at Guilford, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Sacred Heart Academy at Law, ppd. to Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

West Haven at Hand, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Career at Lyman Hall, ppd. to Jan. 27, 7 p.m.

Wilbur Cross at Cheshire, ppd. to Saturday, 6 p.m.

Branford at Sheehan, ppd., TBA

East Haven at Shelton, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.

North Haven at Amity, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.

NVL

St. Paul at Derby, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.

FCIAC

Bassick at St. Joseph, , ppd. to Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

Shoreline

Old Lyme at North Branford, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.

McDonald’s announced its nationwide list of seniors, who have been nominated for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game.


McDonald’s will name the final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls during the 2011 McDonald’s All American Selection Show on ESPNU, airing Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. For a complete list of nominees, click here. The 10th annual girls’ game will tip off March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., and will be televised on ESPNU.

The following seniors from Connecticut have been nominated...

Amber Bepko, Mercy

Sara Binkhorst, Hall

Kelly Coleman, Portland

Savannah Holness, Chase Collegiate

Cara Manfredi, Glastonbury

Onyesonam Nolisa, Chase Collegiate

Sarah Royals, Torrington

Carlee Smith, Windham

Margaret Sundberg, E.O. Smith

Shianne Walker, Bristol Eastern

Each Thursday the Register will take a look at a former area standout, who is now playing in college.

Player: Lauren Okafor

College: Providence

Year: Freshman

Height: 6-3

Position: Forward

High school: Hopkins

Stats:  4.8 ppg, 20 blks, 6.3 reb, 21.1 min

For more on Okafor, click here

There will be a benefit dinner Jan. 22 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville for former Valley Regional athlete Amanda Hines, who suffered a brain hemorrhage in October.


Tickets cost $50 per person and should be reserved by Jan. 15. The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to midnight and will include dancing and a silent auction. For tickets, contact Sue or Rob Watts at watts@comcast.net or at 860-526-5949.

Donations can be made to:

Amanda Hines Benefit Fund

C/o: Rob and Sue Watts

14 Long Hill Road

Deep River, CT 06417

Due to the impending snow storm, some start times for Tuesday’s games have been pushed up. Here’s Tuesday’s area schedule.


Bethel at Oxford, 4 p.m.

Haddam-Killingworth at Portland, 5 p.m.

Branford at Sacred Heart Academy, 5:15 p.m.

Shelton at Hand, 5:15 p.m.

Stratford at Newtown, 5:30 p.m.

Brookfield at Notre Dame-Fairfield, 5:30 p.m.

Westbrook at Morgan, 5:30 p.m.

Sheehan at Law, 6 p.m.

Lyman Hall at Hillhouse, 6 p.m.

Holy Family at Platt Tech, 6 p.m.

Holy Cross at Kennedy, 6 p.m.

Seymour at Derby, 6 p.m.

Weston at Bunnell, 6 p.m.

New Milford at Lauralton Hall, 6 p.m.

Amity at Foran, 6:15 p.m.

Valley Regional at Hyde, 6:30 p.m.

East Haven at West Haven, 7 p.m.

Cheshire at Guilford, 7 p.m.

East Hampton at Old Lyme, 7 p.m.

Watertown at Ansonia, 7 p.m.

Hale Ray at Coginchaug, 7 p.m.

Old Saybrook at Cromwell, 7 p.m.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL


CSC

Grasso Tech at Whitney Tech, ppd. to Jan. 31, 3:30 p.m.

Prince Tech at O’Brien Tech, ppd. to Jan. 26, 6 p.m.

Holy Family at Platt Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 6 p.m.

SCC Quinnipiac

Sacred Heart Academy at West Haven, ppd. to Saturday, 7 p.m.

Hamden at Mercy, ppd. to Saturday, 1 p.m.

SCC Hammonasset

Hand at Hillhouse, ppd. to Saturday, 3 p.m.

Law at Guilford, ppd. to Monday, 7 p.m.

SCC Housatonic

Cheshire at Sheehan, ppd. to Saturday, 5 p.m.

Lyman Hall at Shelton, ppd. to Saturday, 5 p.m.

SCC Oronoque

North Haven at Wilbur Cross, ppd. to Monday, 5:15 p.m.

Career at Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.

Shoreline

Valley Regional at Cromwell, ppd. to today, 3:30 p.m.

Hyde at Old Saybrook, ppd. to Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.

Morgan at Portland, ppd. to today, 2:30 p.m.

North Branford at East Hampton, ppd. to Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Haddam-Killingworth at Westbrook, 7:30 p.m.

Old Lyme at Coginchaug, ppd. to today, 7:30 p.m.

NVL

Naugatuck at Derby, ppd. to Monday, 6 p.m.

Ansonia at Seymour, ppd. to Monday, 7 p.m.

SWC

Bunnell at Brookfield, ppd. to Monday, 7 p.m.

Lauralton Hall at Barlow, ppd., TBA

Masuk at Stratford, ppd. to Monday, 7 p.m.

It may be early to make this prediction, but Lauralton Hall will be state champions — in 2012.


The Crusaders don’t have a single senior on their roster and could be considered a contender in Class LL this season.

Junior Nicola Matero is the Crusaders leader. She proved that tonight, dropping 19 points in a big win over Pomperaug. She can shoot from the perimeter or post up a smaller defender. Then there’s Olivia Levey, who gives Lauralton Hall a big body in the post. She seems very mature for a sophomore and can control the boards and score inside.

Sophomore Michelle DeSantis, daughter of former men’s Quinnipiac coach Joe DeSantis, is a true point guard. The Crusaders lost freshman Carly Fabbri, daughter of Quinnipiac women’s coach Tricia Fabbri, for the season due to a torn ACL. She was starting at shooting guard and put up double figures in her first two games. Fabbri should be back healthy next season.

The talent continues with players like Catherine Gildea and Allison Sacco. Emily Bonzagi is another player with size, who will progress.

Give this young group a year under first-year head coach Alessa Podolak-Lazcowski and that should make Lauralton Hall a very dangerous team next season.