Valley Regional’s Bradbury scores her 1,000th point
“I knew we had an opportunity to do good things, they’re a year older, a year more mature. They did some good things last year and they left the end of last year a little bit unsatisfied and hungry.” — Bolton coach Frank Mensinger
The Bolton girls’ basketball team is building on last season’s success after advancing to the Class S state semifinals last year, where the Bulldogs lost to eventual champion Thomaston.
Bolton (12-1) has five starters back and last week, the Bulldogs beat Granby, the only team that beat them earlier in the season, 46-34, behind 15 points from Makenna Graves.
“I knew we had an opportunity to do good things, they’re a year older, a year more mature,” Bolton coach Frank Mensinger said. “They did some good things last year and they left the end of last year a little bit unsatisfied and hungry.
“The goals for this year focused on getting 28 games. If we get 28 games, we give ourselves a chance. Three games in the conference tournament and get to the finals and five games in the state tournament and get to the finals.”
Three juniors are the team’s top scorers — Emma Diehl (12.2 ppg), Graves (10.4 ppg) and Niya Islam (8.9 ppg). Islam, who averages 4.8 rebounds, had 10 rebounds in the win over Granby but everybody chips in on the boards — Diehl averages 6.8, Graves 6.5 and senior Julia Zimmerman 6.5.
A 43-17 win over South Windsor, a Class L opponent, on Jan. 18 got the Bulldogs to believe in themselves, Mensinger said.
“I told them, ‘I know you’re more than capable,’ ” Mensinger said. “I try to make that impression on them before every game. You believe and good things are going to happen.”
Top performances of the week
Abby Bradbury, Valley Regional: Bradbury had 27 points and scored her 1,000th point Tuesday in a 68-11 win over Hale-ray and had 31 points in a 68-49 win over Fitch Thursday.
Bela Cucuta, Newington: Cucuta had a career-high 30 points, including a 12 for 12 performance from the free throw line, and seven rebounds in a 64-45 victory over Enfield Tuesday and hit a buzzer-beater in a 42-40 win over Ledyard Thursday.
Amandagallagher,simsbury: Gallagher had 21 points in a win over E.O. Smith and 25 points in a triple overtime victory over Southington.
Ava Giansiracusa, Mercy: Giansiracusa had 22 points in a 56-39 win over Hand Thursday.
Sophia Mates, Canton: Mates had 29 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in a 68-61 overtime win over Windsor Locks. She converted a one and one to tie the game at 55-55 and force overtime, then scored 10 points in overtime.
Olivia Matthews, Suffield: Matthews had 15 points and 11 assists in a 60-42 victory over Windsor Locks Thursday.
Mackenzie Mori, Wethersfield: Mori had 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 57-48 win over Bristol Eastern Tuesday.
Alyssarossignol,enfield: Rossignol scored 23 points in a 76-47 win over Manchester Thursday.
Maeve Rushin, Northwest Catholic: Rushin had 10 rebounds, eight blocks and five points in a 60-40 win over Middletown Tuesday.
Shaniqua Thomas, Comp Sci: Thomas had 29 points in a 62-36 win over Achievement First Thursday and 38 points in a 72-17 win over Bulkeley Tuesday.
Storylines
Simsbury’s leading scorer Lauren Sabia, who tore her ACL two years ago, tore her ACL in her left knee Jan. 20 in a win over Conard. Sabia was driving to the hoop for a basket and planted her foot and fell to the ground in pain with 1:06 left in the game, which Simsbury won 44-29. Simsbury has won three of its last four games without Sabia, including two in overtime — one on Friday night, 49-44 in triple overtime against Southington. “We were peaking as a team,” coach Sam Zullo said in a text last week. “But the rest of our group has shown that we’re not out of it yet. We will keep battling.”
After losing to Hand 53-50 on Jan. 4, Mercy won the rematch Thursday 56-39 behind 22 points from Ava Giansiracusa. Mercy (11-2) has won four straight and will face Sacred Heart, whom the Tigers beat Jan. 6, on Wednesday.
Bacon Academy lost its first game to Ledyard 51-48 Saturday. Bacon (14-1) had beaten Ledyard 52-45 on Dec. 20 in an ECC contest. The Bobcats, who were the Class M runners-up last year, were outscored 21-9 in the second quarter of Saturday’s game.
Games to watch
Bolton (12-1) at Ellington (11-2), Tuesday, 6:15 p.m.: Neither NCCC team has lost this year — Bolton’s last loss was Dec. 29, Ellington last lost Dec. 28 to Enfield.
Mercy (11-2) at Sacred Heart (10-3), Wednesday, 7 p.m.:
Mercy faced a big test in Hand last week, this week it’s Sacred Heart, which has won four of its last five, losing in OT to Hamden Friday. Hamden (15-0) at Hand (11-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: Undefeated Hamden survived a scare Friday night but beat Sacred Heart 48-44 in overtime. Hand had a close loss, 51-48, to Hamden on Jan. 6 at Hamden.