The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
CIAC girls basketball championship preview capsules
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 four-straight finals
TOP PLAYERS: Mercy: Ava from 2010-2013, winning
Giansiracusa, Sr. 5-8; Class LL in 2013. New
Sophie Hedge, Sr. 5-8; London has played in four
Avery Kohs, Sr. 5-8. New state finals, all since 2014,
London: Nalyce Dudley, Sr. winning Class M in 2014
5-11; Serenity Lancaster, So. and LL in 2017 and last
6-2; Nyarah Dudley, Fr. 5-7 making a final in 2019 when it lost to Norwalk in Class WHAT TO LOOK FOR: New LL. 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 four-straight 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.