Here's the top five. For the rest of the poll click here.

1. Norwich Free Academy (12 first-place votes): Class LL champs

2. Hillhouse (six first-place votes): Class L champs

3. Wethersfield: Class L runner-up

4. Mercy: Class LL runner-up

5. Northwest Catholic: Class L quarterfinalist. Lost to Hillhouse. Finished 25-1.

For final area scoring leaders, click here.

Norwich Free Academy senior guard Kastine Evans was named the 2009-10 Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year today.


Evans, who is headed to Kentucky, was a Register All-State selection last season. Evans will look to lead NFA, the defending Class LL state champions, against Manchester in the Class LL semifinals Saturday.

Evans is the fourth player in NFA girls' basketball history to earn the award.

Norwich Free Academy had arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the state this season and the Wildcats will soon see if it will pay off with the postseason right around the corner.

To name a few of the powerhouses on its schedule, Norwich Free Academy opened the season with a win over Kolbe Cathedral and lost to Pomperaug 46-45 two days later. The Wildcats also knocked off Capital Prep and Manchester, before falling 49-47 to Hillhouse.

“It’s one of the hardest schedules I’ve had in my 18 years as head coach,” said Wildcats coach Bill Scarlata, whose team is 17-2. “It should help us. We’ve faced real good competition. We’ve saw a lot of height and saw a lot of different styles.”

No. 3 Hillhouse beat No. 4 Norwich Free Academy 49-47 tonight.

The Wildcats went on a 21-7 run that spilled from the third quarter into the fourth. They held a 44-43 advantage midway through the fourth quarter, after trailing by as much as 13 points.

Bria Holmes led the Academics with 15 points, most coming in transition. Andreana Thomas added 12 points. The duo combined for 18 of Hillhouse's 26 first-half points.

Jen Escobido led NFA with 16 points. Kastine Evans added 14 points and guarded Bria Holmes the whole game.

For the rest of the area scores from Saturday night click here.

Hillhouse hosts Norwich Free Academy tonight in what may be the best regular season game of the season.

Hillhouse is ranked No. 3 in the Register Top 10 poll and is coming off a win against No. 6 Mercy. Norwich Free Academy is No. 4 and is in the midst of the toughest non-league schedule in the state.

The Academics boast Bria Holmes and Andreana Thomas, while the Wildcats are led by Kastine Evans and Stephanie Long. Both are among the top one-two punches in the state.

Oh yeah, and both won a state title last season.

The two state powers will clash tonight at 6 p.m. at the New Haven Athletic Center.

Lauralton Hall senior Keylantra Langley was clearly the best player on the floor last night in the Crusaders 65-42 win over Lyman Hall in the Hand Holiday Tournament championship.

But Langley also showed why she may be the best player in the state.

Despite an injured back, she dropped 27 points, was a lockdown defender and displayed her tremendous court vision. During a key 11-0 run for Lauralton Hall in the third quarter, she had a hand in four of the five baskets.

Playing alongside Molly Yardley last season, Langley showed glimpses of her talent.

Now Lauralton Hall is her team. With plenty of depth and coasting to five of its six wins, the Crusaders haven't had to rely on Langley much so far. But when they need her to, Langley proved she is more than capable of shouldering the load.

It's no surprise she will play in the Big East next season. Langley is headed to St. John's.

Norwich Free Academy's Kastine Evans is also in the discussion for the state's top player. She is headed to Kentucky next season and led her team to the Class LL title last year.

If Evans and NFA are hoping to repeat, they may have to go through Lauralton Hall in order to do so.

Evans and Langley head-to-head? What a matchup that would be.