Norwalk voted No. 1

The Norwalk girls basketball team finished last season with an unbeaten record and as the unanimous No. 1 team in the Top 10 poll.

The Bears lost a few key pieces to graduation but bring back enough talent that voters stuck with them as No. 1 this preseason.

Hand, which came on strong at the end of last season, reaching the Class L championship game, brings back a plethora of talent, including super guard Sara Wohlgemuth.

Notre DameFairfield, just like Hand, saw its season end at the hands of Hillhouse in the Class L tournament. Also, like Hand, the Lancers bring back most of their starters including sophomore Aizhanique Mayo and junior Yamani McCollough.

Class M champions Cromwell come in at fourth with

AllState guard Vanessa Stolsjaner leading an experienced group of players.

Class LL runnerup New London tallied the last firstplace vote in the poll. The Whalers were hit hard by graduation and have a new coach.

The Whalers do bring back supersophomore Joniyah BlandFitzpatrick and always seem to be able to reload.

E.O. Smith, Wilbur Cross and NFA were not in the final poll last season but voters saw it fit to include them, now. With good reason as each team has talented players and high expectations for the upcoming year.

The poll will not be back until after the new year, until then teams will be playing in holiday tournaments and a ton of excellent nonconference games. Many featuring top 10 teams taking on each other.