BEYOND THE ARC – Lyman Hall’s Nicole Mierzejewski isn’t scared of crunch time, Tori Peterson isn’t scared of the glass and Melissa Tirella put a scare into the defense. Don’t be nervous, it’s the weekend and here’s what caught my eye.

NI-COLD BLOODED – Lyman Hall’s Nicole Mierzejewski had a good start to her season in Wednesday's victory. On Friday she carried that momentum into the second half and overtime scoring 14 of her 18 points to help her team down Foran 41-39 in OT. Mierzejewski was the only Trojan (2-0) in double-digits as Lyman Hall kept the Lions’ (0-2) Taylor Ceballos under control, only surrendering 11 points to the freshman.

CLOSE UP – Lyman Hall and Foran wasn’t the only Southern Connecticut Conference interdivisional nail biter last night. Branford edged Hamden 59-57, thanks to Gabriella Melgar’s 15 points and Jenna Walsh’s 13. Also, Shelton defeated Law 43-42 as Alyssa Eannotti had 12 points and Megan Burke poured in 10 points. Lastly, Guilford defeated Amity 40-37 with Caitlin Sobolewski scoring a game-high 10.

STAT STUFFER – Ansonia’s Melissa Tirella is one of the Naugatuck Valley League’s top players. She proved it scoring 19 points, grabbing eight rebounds, collecting three steals and dishing off two assists as the Chargers opened their season with a 42-37 overtime triumph over St. Paul. Tirella hit a 3-pointer and made four of six free throws. Ansonia outscored St. Paul 7-2 in the extra frame.

THE A-LIST – Tanaya Atkinson, Nicole Anderson and Alyssa Alston (three A’s, A-list, get it?) are the cream of the SCC crop on the state’s best team, Career. They showed Sacred Heart Academy just why last night as Atkinson dropped a game-high 36 points and Alston and Anderson added 13 each in a 71-42 victory. The Panthers’ (2-0) Atkinson came six points shy of tying the Pacers (0-2), who suffered their second double-digit loss after falling to Amity 41-31 Wednesday. The A-List also accounted for 62 of Career's 71 points.

Starting five: The top five performers from last night’s action
Tanaya Atkinson, No. 1 Career: She scored a game-high 36 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 71-42 win over Sacred Heart Academy.
Tori Peterson, Haddam-Killingworth: She dropped 17 points and hauled in 17 rebounds in a 46-38 victory over Old Saybrook.
Melissa Tirella, Ansonia: She finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists in a 42-37 triumph over St. Paul.
Jayva Johnson, West Haven: She made two 3-pointers and finished with 24 points in a 59-22 win over Wilbur Cross.
Jenn Vazquez, St. Joseph (Trumbull): She dropped 27 points on Fairfield Warde in a 57-45 triumph.

What's going on?

NEW HAVEN REGISTER: Local roundup and box scores. 

MIDDLETOWN PRESS: Local roundup and box scores.

REGISTER CITIZEN: Torrington takes out Naugatuck, Peter Wallace has the story.

CT POST: Trumbull defeats Trinity Catholic, Emery Filmer has more.

NEWS-TIMES: No. 5 Danbury starts off with a win. Rick Casagrande was on the scene.