CIAC GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW CAPSULES

CLASS LL

WHEN •: Saturday, 6:15 p.m.WHERE:• Mohegan Sun Arena

SEEDS/RECORDS:• No. 1 Hamden (26-0) vs No. 2 Ludlowe (26-0)

TICKETS:• $10 per session (day/ night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office.

ON THE AIR/WEB:NFHS Network (Subscription required)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: Both teams are making their first state championship game appearances.

TOP PLAYERS: Hamden: Gianna Donnarummo, Jr. 5-5; Alana Philpotts, Jr. 5-9; Leah Philpotts, Jr. 5-9. Ludlowe: Madison Roman, Sr. 6-0; Caitlin Finnegan, Sr. 6-1; Rory Kudzy, Sr. 5-7

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: This is the dream matchup fans have been waiting for all season. Two unbeaten teams in Class LL, ranked as the No. 1 and 2 teams in the GameTimeCT Poll since January, one from the SCC and one from the FCIAC. While Ludlowe is a senior-dominant team, Hamden is driven by juniors. Hamden wants to get out in transition with the Philpotts sisters slashing to the basket and Gianna Donnarummo spotting up from outside the 3-point line. While Ludlowe can run, it would prefer to pound the ball inside to Madison Roman and Caitlin Finnegan then kick the ball out to Rory Kudzy and Phoebe Shostak for 3s.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: This is the first time since 2016 that both head coaches in the Class LL championship game are women with Amanda Forcucci leading Hamden and Sara Kinsley coaching Ludlowe. The last time that happened was 2016 when Stamford and Diane Burns defeated Greenwich and Chrys Hernandez. Ludlowe will remain without 6-foot All-FCIAC guard, and maybe the state’s best athlete, Kaleigh Sommers who injured her ankle in the FCIAC championship game and has not played since.

Scott’s Pick: Hamden

CLASS L

WHEN: Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena

SEEDS/RECORDS: No. 1 Pomperaug (22-2) vs No. 3 E.O. Smith (22-4)

TICKETS: $10 per session (day/ night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office.

ON THE AIR/WEB:NFHS Network (Subscription required)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: E.O. Smith is making its third championship game appearance, losing in the 2011 and 2012 Class L championship games. Pomperaug is also playing in its third championship game with the last appearance coming in the 2004 Class L final. In its other trip, Pomperaug lost in the 1987 Class M title game.

TOP PLAYERS: E.O. Smith: Madison Hughes, Sr. 6-2; Jill Dingler, So. 5-7; Isabella Mallory Allen, Sr. 6-2. Pomperaug: Claudia Schneider, Sr. 6-0; Taylor Brennan, Jr. 6-0; Alexis Mackenzie, Jr. 5-5

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Both teams bring size with two of the taller sets of front-court players in the state. E.O. Smith needs Madison Hughes and Isabella Mallory Allen to do work inside but on the other side, 6-foot forward Claudia Schneider can work inside and out and create her own opportunities while Taylor Brennan plays more around the hoop. The guards for both sides may ultimately decide things as 3point opportunities are sure to present themselves with defenses focusing on the players in the paint.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Both teams have Panthers as their mascots, marking the first time since 1999 that teams with the same nickname will meet for a girls basketball championship. The last time it happened was the 1999 Class S championship game between the Canton and Valley Regional Warriors.

Scott’s Pick: Pomperaug

CLASS MM

WHEN: Sunday, 8:15 p.m.

WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena

SEEDS/RECORDS: No. 4 Mercy (20-6) vs No. 6 New London (20-6)

TICKETS: $10 per session (day/ night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office.

ON THE AIR/WEB:NFHS Network (Subscription required)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: Mercy has appeared in seven championship games, winning three times with the most recent coming in 2018 in Class LL. Mercy reached fourstraight finals from 2010-2013, winning Class LL in 2013. New London has played in four state finals, all since 2014, winning Class M in 2014 and LL in 2017 and last making a final in 2019 when it lost to Norwalk in Class LL.

TOP PLAYERS: Mercy: Ava Giansiracusa, Sr. 5-8; Sophie Hedge, Sr. 5-8; Avery Kohs, Sr. 5-8. New London: Nalyce Dudley, Sr. 5-11; Serenity Lancaster, So. 6-2; Nyarah Dudley, Fr. 5-7

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: New London has seven players on the varsity roster and did not field a JV team this season. However, one of those seven players is state MVP candidate Nalyce Dudley who lit up the ECC and has continued to dominate in the state tournament. She will face a challenge from Mercy which leans on seniors Ava Giansiracusa and Sophie Hedge for the bulk of its scoring. New London has gotten big games, including 32 points in the semifinals, from 6-foot-2 sophomore Serenity Lancaster.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: New London coach Tammy Millsaps is no stranger to state championships, having led Capital Prep to the Class S championship in 2013 and the Class L championship from 2014-16, finishing ranked No. 1 in the GameTimeCT Poll for fourstraight seasons. Mercy coach Tim Kohs led the Tigers to the 1996, 2013 and 2018 state championships and seven overall state final appearances.

Scott’s Pick: Mercy

CLASS M

WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena

SEEDS/RECORDS: No. 1 East Hampton (25-1) vs No. 3 Valley Regional (21-4)

TICKETS: $10 per session (day/ night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office.

ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (Subscription required)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: None of the current players were alive when these teams last made state championship games. East Hampton has appeared in two finals, but not since 1985 when it lost in Class S. The Bellringers won the 1980 Class S championship. Valley has played in five title games, winning three times with the last championship coming in 1999 in Class S.

TOP PLAYERS: Valley: Lily Grow, Sr. 5-10; Abby Bradbury, Sr. 5-9; Olivia Cunningham, Jr. 6-0. East Hampton: Liana Salamone, So. 5-8; Jacquelyn Russell, Jr. 5-8; Delaney Russell, Jr. 5-6

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Valley lost four games this season, to Cromwell in the Shoreline Tournament; twice to East Hampton and to Class S finalist Northwest Catholic. East Hampton has won 20-straight games since losing to Cromwell Jan. 3, including winning the Shoreline Tournament. The Bellringers are powered by sophomore guard Liana Salamone, who can score from anywhere on the court. Valley’s leading scorers are senior Abby Bradbury and junior Olivia Cunningham, both of whom are in double-digits scoring nearly every game. Valley is the only team to score 50 points against East Hampton this season, though that came in a 74-50 loss in January.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Both teams lost in last year’s Class M semifinals, Valley to eventual champion Holy Cross and East Hampton to Bacon Academy. The last time two Shoreline Conference teams faced off in a state championship game was the 2011 Class S final between Portland and Cromwell.

Scott’s Pick: East Hampton

CLASS S

WHEN: 3 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena

SEEDS/RECORDS No. 10 Northwest Catholic (16-8) vs No. 16 Kolbe Cathedral (14-10).

TICKETS: $10 per session (day/ night). Available online (with service charge) or at arena box office.

ON THE AIR/WEB:NFHS Network (Subscription required)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The most championship history this year lies in Class S. Kolbe has played in 10 championship games, winning seven titles with the last coming in 2010 in Class M. From 20002010, Kolbe was 6-0 in title games. Northwest Catholic has played in nine title games, winning three times, the last coming in 1999 in Class M. They last appeared in a championship game in 2015, losing in Class L to Capital Prep.

TOP PLAYERS: Kolbe Cathedral: Rachael Cherrington, Jr. 5-6; Rachael Cherrington, Jr. 5-6; Janiah Perez, Sr. 5-4. Northwest Catholic: Abby Casper, Fr. 510; Lily Pare, Jr. 5-4; Maeve Rushin, Jr. 6-1

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The two teams are the only double-digit seeds to advance to the finals. After neither team qualified for their respective conference tournaments, both have made runs through Class S, beating top teams from the Berkshire League and NCCC along the way. Northwest Catholic out of the CCC, only played two Class S schools in the regular season, mostly playing Class LL and L schools with two games against Class M schools. Playing out of the SWC, Kolbe faced a schedule full of Class LL and L schools and did not play any Class S schools this season until the state tournament.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: This is the first time since 2007, Kolbe vs Notre Dame-Fairfield, that two Catholic schools have met for the Class S championship. The division has been won by a Catholic school 10 times since 2000.

Scott’s Pick: Northwest Catholic

Editor’s note: CIAC boys basketball state championship capsules will run in Saturday’s edition.

Editor’s note:

CIAC boys basketball state championship capsules will run in Saturday’s edition.