The Class LL Final: No. 2 Lauralton Hall versus No. 1 Mercy

Maria Weselyj, 2013

Bryce Drew, 1998

By Henry Chisholm

hchisholm@nhregister.com

@NHRHenryC on Twitter

UNCASVILLE -- Mercy senior guard Maria Weselyj has witnessed all three of the Tigers' Class LL final losses. So after Lauralton Hall senior guard Michelle DeSantis hit a lay up to put the Tigers down one with three seconds left in the game, Weselyj just wanted one more chance.

"(Lauralton Hall) was already celebrating on the court," she said. "You could see it our faces, we were like, 'dang, again for the fourth time.' But I told Liz (Falcigno) who fouled out, 'we have heart, we can do this. We have 3.8 seconds left and we're going to play the game until its done."

Sheena Landy threw a full court pass to Cassandra Santoro who found Weselyj for a wide open 3-pointer as time expired to lift top-seeded Mercy to a 54-53 victory over second-seeded Lauralton Hall in the Class LL final at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday.

No. Mercy 41, Lauralton Hall 40: Maria Weselyj nailed a buzzer-beating jumper to give the Tigers the lead going into the fourth quarter after Olivia Levey's 3-point play.

No. 2 Lauralton Hall 28, No. 1 Mercy 25: The Crusaders got 16 first half points and four triples from Carly Fabbri as they continue to lead the Tigers in the Class LL title game.

Mercy took a five point lead to open the second quarter, before LH retook the lead.

No. 2 Lauralton Hall 14' No. 1 Mercy 13: The Crusaders jumped out in front thanks to 10 first quarter points from Carly Fabbri.

The Class L Final: No. 10 Farmington versus No. 1 Bacon Academy

 

By Henry Chisholm

hchisholm@nhregister.com

@NHRHenryC on Twitter

UNCASVILLE -- Sophie Borg and Brittany Belisle both scored 11 points and Courtney Hofer grabbed 10 rebounds as No. 10 Farmington stunned top-seeded Bacon Academy 49-44 in the Class L final at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday.

The Indians close e season 23-5 and the Bobcats finish 24-3. 

Bacon Academy was ranked seventh in the New Haven Register poll.

No. 10 Farmington 30, No. 1 Bacon Academy 21: The Indians have made this a grind-it-out game, moving the ball around, milking the clock and the Bobcats can't find the bottom of the net as we head to the fourth. 

The Indians held the Bobcats to just three points in the third.

No. 10 Farmington 23, No. 1 Bacon Academy 18: The Indians hold onto their upset bid up five at half. The Bobcats trailed by as many as 12 before closing the gap to end the half.

The Class S Final: No. 3 Thomaston versus No. 1 Capital Prep

By Henry Chisholm

hchisholm@nhregister.com

@NHRHenryC on Twitter

UNCASVILLE -- Kiah Gillespie  scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Shaquana Edwards scored 18 points and Desiree Elmore scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as top-seeded Capital Prep routed No. 3 Thomaston 84-55 in the Class S championship at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday.

The Trailblazers, who are also ranked No. 1 in the Register pol, finish the season 25-2. 

Thomaston closes the season 23-3.

For Captial Prep coach Tammy Millsaps, her Trailblazers should still be No. 1 when the final poll is released Monday.

"We've played very well against whoever we matched up against," she said. "We should be No. 1 again."

No. 1 Capital Prep 43, No. 3 Thomaston 16: The Trailblazers continue to rout Thomaston, exploding with a 20-point second quarter. 

No. 1 Capital Prep 23, No. 3 Thomaston 5: The Trailblazers continue their dominant ways, opening up a 7-0 lead and forging ahead to a comfortable first quarter advantage. Kiah Gillespie has four points.

 

The Class M Final: No. 2 Notre Dame-Fairfield versus No. 1 Cromwell

No. 1 Cromwell 42, No. 2 Notre Dame -Fairfield 28: Cromwell finished an undefeated season and wrapped up the Class M championship. 

The Panthers held the Lancers to just 10 second half points

No. 1 Cromwell 23, No. 2 Notre Dame-Fairfield 19: Cromwell forged ahead thanks to a go-ahead lay up from Janelle Harrison. She has seven point as we head to the fourth quarter.

No. 2 Notre Dame-Fairfield 18, No. 1 Cromwell 16: The Lancers held onto their slim lead thanks to a strong drive and finish from Amber James. She had seven first-half points.

No. 2 Notre Dame- Fairifled 14, No. 1 Cromwell 10: The Lancers hold a four-point lead after Jovan Kingwood scored seven first quarter points.
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• Check out how we got to this point.

Below are some of the state's best players, some stats from Max Preps and collegiate info is from the player's coaches. If you're a player on the list and want to add college info, stats or videos, email me at hchisholm@nhregister.com. Also, if you feel like you should be added to the list, email me your stuff. Connecticut is loaded with girls' basketball talent, this is where the best get exposure.

The List 

Tanaya Atkinson, Career Magnet, New Haven

Senior forward, 5-foor-9

Stats: Averaged 20.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game and shot 54 percent from the floor.

Accolades: She won the Most Outstanding Player award in the Southern Connecticut Conference Final. She led her team to an SCC championship.

She was named All-SCC.

Committed: Temple University

Signed yet: No.

Scholarship: Full

Notable links: Tanaya leads Career to SCC crown.

The Best of Tanaya

 

Alyssa Alston, Career Magnet, New Haven

Reclassified sophomore guard, 5-foot-9

Stats: Averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game. 

No longer plays in Connecticut, transferred to Upper Christian Academy

Notable links: Alyssa leads Career past Mercy, despite four fouls in the 4th quarter.

The Best of Alyssa

Missy Bailey, Cheshire High School, Cheshire

Senior guard, 5-foot-5

Stats: Averaged 11.8 points per game and made 29.

Accolades: All-SCC

Committed: Franklin Pierce

Signed yet: No.

Scholarship: N/A

Bailey bangs in buzzer-beater

Taylor Ceballos, Foran High School, Milford

Sophomore center

Stats: Averaged 15.1 points per game and 13.9 rebounds per game. The freshman grabbed 250 boards.

Accolades: 

Schools interested: 

Schools offered: 

Signed yet: No

Scholarship: None.

Desiree Elmore, Captial Prep, Hartford

Sophomore forward, 5-foot-10

Stats: Averaged 16.8 points and 8.8 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game and shot 51 percent from the floor.

Accolades: 

Schools interested: Big East, ACC schools.

Schools offered: None.

Signed yet: No.

Scholarship: No.

The Best of Desiree

Kiah Gillepsie, Capital Prep, Hartford

Junior forward, 6-foot-0

Stats: Averaged 17.3 points per game, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals per game and shot 54 percent from the floor.

Accolades: Named Constitution State Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, All-CSC.

Schools interested: Received letters from Hofstra, UConn, Rutgers, Providence, Penn State, St. Joseph, Central Connecticut State University, Stanford, Boston College, Georgetown, Drexel, Brown, Princeton, UMass.

Schools offered: None.

Signed yet: None.

Scholarship: No.
Notable links: Kiah leads Capital Prep past the top team in the state.

The Best of Kiah

Rachel Gartner, Danbury High School, Danbury

Senior guard, 5-foot-8

Stats: Averaged 12.9 points and 4.3 steals per game.

Accolades: Led the Hatters to an FCIAC championship.

Schools interested: Lafayette, University of Rhode Island, Brown University, Vermont, Fordham, Central Connecticut State University

Schools offered: Lafayette, Vermont, Central Connecticut State University
Committed: Boston College

Signed yet: No

Scholarship: N/A

Rebecca Gartner, Danbury High School, Danbury

Senior guard, 5-foot-8

Stats: Averaged 11.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.

Accolades: Led the Hatters to an FCIAC championship.

Schools interested: Lafayette, University of Rhode Island, Brown University, Vermont, Fordham, Central Connecticut State University

Schools offered: Lafayette, Vermont, Central Connecticut State University

Signed yet: No

Trayneice Mims, Hyde Leadership, New Haven

Senior guard, 5-foot-1

Stats: Averaged 16.9 points per game and became the first female basketball player to score 1,000 career points at the school. 

Accolades: N/A

Schools interested: Western Connecticut State University

Schools offered: none.

Signed yet: No.

Scholarship: None.

The Best of Trayneice 

Kiera O'Donnell, Holy Cross, Waterbury

Senior guard, 5-foot-11

Stats: Averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game.

Accolades: Twice named All-Naugatuck Valley League, Most Valuable Player in NVL All-Star Game this season, Waterbury All-City Team and Player of the Year.

Schools interested: University of New Haven and other DI, DII and Ivy League schools

Schools offered: none.
Committed: Assumption College

Signed yet: No.

Scholarship: N/A

The Best of Kiera

Shyla Osmond, (transferred, to play at Hillhouse, New Haven)

Senior guard, 5-foot-4

Stats: Averaged 12.9 points per game.

Accolades: All-SCC and was voted regular-season MVP by the fans in a www.nhregister.com poll.

Schools interested: N/A

Schools offered: N/A

Signed yet: N/A

Scholarship: N/A

The Best of Shyla

Alyssa Velles, Norwich Free Academy, Norwich

Senior shooting guard, 5-foot-10

Stats: Averaged 18.2 points, five rebounds and two steals per game, shot 48 percent from the floor and scored her 1,000th career point in her junior season.

Accolades: Made All-Tournament and All-Conference teams and also the All-tournament team in the Masuk and Manchester tournaments. As a sophomore, she was named conference MVP, made All-Conference and set a school record going 16-for-16 at the free throw line.

Schools interested: Holy Cross, Colgate, University of Hartford, University of Vermont, University of Rhode Island, University of New Hampshire, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Marist, Lehigh, Bucknell, Fairfield.

Schools offered:
Committed: St. Peter's University

Signed yet: No

Scholarship: N/A
 

Sarah Veilleux, RHAM, Hebron

Senior guard/forward

Stats: Averaged 28.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.5 assists per game. Shot 55 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line.

Accolades: Named Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, All-Central Connecticut Conference all three seasons.

Committed: St. Joseph (PA.)
Scholarship: N/A

No. 2 Lauralton Hall is headed to the Class LL Final


No. 2 Lauralton Hall 23, No. 3 Trumbull 16: The Crusaders put the clamps on the Eagles' offense in the second quarter and hold a solid advantage at the half. Lauralton held Trumbull to just six second quarter points. The Crusaders were aided by a balanced attack, as five different players scored. For more info, stay right here. No. 1 Capital Prep 43, No. 4 Morgan 18: The Trailblazers just continue to run roughshod through Class S, holding a commanding lead at the half of the Class S Final Four. 

Kiah Gillespie and Desiree Elmore led Capital Prep in a dominant first half. The Blazers are coming off a 105-23 rout of Valley Regional in the quarters.

Follow all of the action from the 2013 Final Four

No. 4 Morgan 31, No. 5 Bolton 23: The Huskies used a 15-7 second quarter to take a halftime lead over Bolton at home in the Class S Quarterfinals.

The winner of this contest takes on the winner of No. 1 Capital Prep and No. 24 Valley Regional. For more info, stay right here.

Follow all of the action from the CIAC Elite Eight.