The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Late and great
Panthers will meet Valley in Class M’s 2nd round; Xavier wins at Amity
Cromwell senior forward Kevin Francis, pictured far right, got the state tournament going in style. Francis hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift his Panthers to a 57-55 win against Immaculate in the opening round of the Class M state tournament Monday night. Up next for Cromwell? A second-round meeting with Shoreline foe Valley Regional on Wednesday.
It doesn’t get much better than this.
Cromwell senior Kevin Francis nailed a 3-pointer as time expired to lift his Panthers to a 57-55 state tournament win against Immaculate in front of an ecstatic home crowd Monday night.
Cromwell, seeded 12th, advances to the second round of the Class M tournament, and will play at Shoreline foe Valley Regional Wednesday.
Trailing by one point with time winding down, Cromwell’s Josh Green drove to the hoop, drew the attention of several Immaculate defenders, then dished to an open Francis for the 3-pointer. As the buzzer sounded, the ball dropped through the nylon.
Jake Regula led Cromwell with 18 points, and Mike McNally added 11. Joey Wallace led Immaculate with a game-high 29.
XAVIER 66, AMITY 57 >> Senior James Sullivan scored 23 points, Elijah Pemberton added 17 and the Falcons advanced to the second round of the Class LL state tournament with a road win in Woodbridge.
Xavier opened up a 37-17 lead at halftime in what coach Mike Kohs called the team’s best half this season.
“It was outstanding defense all around,” Kohs said. “They have a super player in Zach Campbell, and we shut him down in the first half.”
Amity rallied in the second half and cut the deficit to five, but Xavier sank free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Falcons will play at thirdseeded St. Joseph Wednesday at 7 p.m.
VALLEY REGIONAL 106, ELLIS TECH 51
>> The Warriors, seeded fifth in the Class M state tournament, had five scorers in double figures in this firstround rout in Deep River.
Senior Chris Connor led the way with 22 points, followed by Jonathan Luster (15), David Bradbury (14), Sten Spinella (14) and Chris Jean-Pierre (11).
Dan Rogers led Ellis Tech with 16 points. Valley led 61-18 at halftime. The Warriors will host Cromwell in the second round Wednesday at 7 p.m.
BETHEL 83, VINALTECH 47>> The Hawks closed their season with a loss at third-seeded Bethel. Senior Dante Watson scored a game-high 31 for Vinal, and Daniel Garvin led Bethel with 20.
Girls basketball
CAPITAL PREP 100, VALLEY REGIONAL 27
>> Top-seeded Capital Prep advanced to a semifinal meeting with No. 4 Morgan.