A look at the No. 1 girls hoops teams
Taking out the 2020 and 2021 seasons when no state championships were held, six CIAC girls basketball teams have been unanimously voted No. 1 since 2014 (Capital Prep in 2014, 2015; New London in 2017; Norwalk in 2019 and Hamden in 2023 and 2024).
Here are the last 10 final No. 1 teams in the GameTimeCT boys basketball poll (note: no final poll was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the CIAC tournament).
2023-24, Hamden: Led by twin sisters Alana and Leah Philpotts, Hamden ran the table in the postseason, beating rival Sacred Heart Academy in the SCC and CIAC Class LL title games to win both championships in backto-back seasons. The Green Dragons were the first team since NFA in 2009-10 to repeat as Class LL champions. They were voted the unanimous No. 1.
2022-23, Hamden: Amanda Forcucci coached Hamden to a 27-0 season, capped by the school’s first CIAC girls basketball championship, over previously unbeaten Ludlowe in the Class LL final. Juniors Alana and Leah Philpotts were both named GameTimeCT First Team All-State. The Green Dragons were unanimously voted No. 1.
2021-22, Notre DameFairfield: Former UConn national champion Maria Conlon coached the Lancers to their first state championship and the No. 1 ranking in the state, but it was close. In
the first year the CIAC crowned five state champions in girls basketball, four teams (Notre DameFairfield, SHA, East Hartford and Holy Cross) all received first-place votes in the final poll. But none of those four played each other in the state tournaments. The Class L champion Lancers were led by a talented senior group featuring Aizhanique Mayo, Kayla Tilus, Taylor Gibbs and Sarah Macary.
2020-21, NFA: In the strangest year of basketball in CIAC history, there were not state tournaments held and teams could only play local schools due to Covid-19 concerns. NFA won the ECC tournament, finished 16-0 and picked up 10 first place votes; SWC champion Notre DameFairfield
was 12-1 and got three first-place votes and FCIAC champion Ridgefield was 16-0 and got two votes for first place. Newington was 16-0, SHA was 14-1 and Hamden was 12-3 so not much was decided on the court among the top teams.
2019-20: No final poll due to Covid-19 pandemic.
2018-19, Norwalk: Ashley Wilson led the Bears to a 28-0 record, the FCIAC and Class LL championships and their first No. 1 ranking since 2000. Naeva Rene scored the winning basket with two seconds remaining in the Class LL championship game against New London.
2017-18, Mercy: Mercy capped a 27-1 season by winning the SCC and Class LL championships. It was the team’s sixthstraight SCC tournament final appearance. Mercy’s roster featured five seniors and eight juniors and was led by senior Bella Santoro, who was named the Gatorade Connecticut Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
2016-17, New London: Senior forward India Pagan led the Whalers to a 26-2 record, an ECC D-I and Class LL championship. New London knocked off defending state champion Stamford, CCC champion Enfield and FCIAC champion Trumbull to claim its first Class LL title and first No. 1 overall ranking.
2015-16, Capital Prep:
The Tammy Milsaps coached Trailblazers finished No. 1 for the fourth straight season. It was also the fourth straight state title for Capital Prep, including the last three in Class L. The first title — in 2013 — was Class S. Capital Prep became the first girls team since Southington from 1986-1989 to win four state titles in a row.
2014-15, Capital Prep: For the third-straight season, Capital Prep was voted No. 1. The Trailblazers were 25-1 and won the Class L championship. Senior Kia Gillespie scored 42 points and had 22 rebounds in the championship game win over Northwest Catholic. They were ranked 16th nationally by USA Today.
2013-14, Capital Prep:
The Trailblazers went 27-0, winning the CSC and Class L state championship. They were ranked No. 1 from the preseason until the end. They were led by 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year junior Kiah Gillespie, Taylor Williams and Desiree Elmore.