Valley, E. Hampton reach final

CLINTON — Monday night at Morgan High School was about taking that next step.

In what was an AllShoreline Conference final four in the Class M girls basketball state semifinals, Valley Regional and East Hampton had plenty of motivation to get to the state final. Both had lost in last year’s semifinals in this very division, Valley to eventual champion Holy Cross, East Hampton to Bacon Academy.

Everyone wants a chance to enjoy the Run to the Sun at least once in their career. Both No. 3 seed Valley Regional and top seed East Hampton will get that opportunity this weekend.

Valley Regional held off a late charge from No. 7 Cromwell to prevail 56-51. In the opener, East Hampton handled No. 5 Coginchaug 44-24.

“A lot of motivation and a lot of learning over these last two years, a lot of film, and I think that’s what really helped us and propel us forward,” Valley Regional coach Jaimie Bickelhaupt said.

The battle between the Shoreline champion East Hampton (25-1) and Valley Regional (21-4) will be either Saturday or Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

“I think it means a lot, We’ve been (playing) together since we were in fourth or fifth grade. I’m glad to do it with this group of girls and glad all of our hard work has paid off,” Valley Regional senior Abby Bradbury said.

And for both programs, none of the players were around the last time either team was in a state final. For Valley Regional, it was 1999, a win over Canton.

For East Hampton, it was 1985. East Hampton’s last state championship came in 1980.

Not even head coach Shaun Russell, in his 26th season with the Bellringers, was around for that.

“I think it’s a culmination of not only a season’s hard work, but recent groups of seasons of hard work and ultimately, stretching back to a connection of the sisterhood of all the girls who have played here,” Russell said. “Many of them are here tonight, just as happy as the girls who won the game.”