Torrington’s run stopped by Franks, Windsor

TORRINGTON — Junior guard Ayanna Franks and defense — often the same thing — pushed No. 12 Windsor past No. 4 Torrington 5745 Monday night in a Class L Girls Basketball Tournament quarterfinal at Torrington High School.

Franks scored a gamehigh 35 points for the Warriors. Fourteen of them came on her seven steals, followed by an automatic race to the hoop downcourt.

The Warriors (16-7), starting three juniors and two sophomores, have a first-year coach — Brittany Huggins — and no seniors on the team.

“I don’t know why that is; I just take what I’ve got,” she said.

“We’ve been with each other a long time — since middle school,” said Franks.

Nevertheless, a midseason 50-33 loss to Simsbury was a pothole exposing their youth.

“We learned from our mistakes,” said Franks. “We didn’t cover them up on defense.”

“We’ve improved our defense; we’re more connected as a team,” said Huggins, who played on Windsor’s Class LL state championship team in 2004.

Proof of the defensive improvement came last Thursday in a 40-37 second round win over No. 5 Simsbury, then smacked Torrington with more of it Monday.

The Raiders, 19-5, are used to revving their engines with a stiff defense of their own.

Monday’s first quarter threatened to throw that concept in reverse.

Starting with a quick layup by Windsor’s Mikaela Williams off 6foot-2 sophomore Jordyn Bay-Kent’s opening tap, Franks stole the ball on Torrington’s first two possessions, building a 6-0 lead in a little over a minute.

Call it a jolt, but Torrington, starting four seniors and a junior, is as deep on experience as Windsor is on quickness.

Leah Pergola (12 points)

and Amelia Boulli hit back-to-back threepointers on either side of another Franks steal/layup. Pergola sank three foul shots, exposing the penalty for Windsor’s tight, often full-court defense.

The Warriors led 15-12 at the end of the period. Exploratory jabs accomplished, the game was on.

If Torrington could keep salting the pot with three’s, they were in good shape. If Windsor’s defense could withstand referee whistles, they, too, were doing fine.

“If we don’t make shots, we’re in trouble,” said Torrington Coach Mike Fritch.

The Raiders drained just two more threes in the game. Franks had two more steals in the second quarter.

Still, Fritch has praised his team’s mental toughness all year. Center Julianna Latina got to the hoop for six points in the second quarter. Forward Haley Burger (14 points) added another four.

Franks and Amaiya Stevens found their perimeter range.

Windsor led just 24-22 at the half.

Franks and the Warriors threatened to run away with it in the third quarter. Franks scored 10 points, including another three, building a 38-28 lead.

Pergola and Burger rallied the Raiders back to 38-32 with the period’s final two baskets.

Franks still carried Windsor’s defensive flag high, starting with another steal and the first four points in the final period for a 42-32 lead.

Torrington’s Rachel Brewer-Karimi launched Torrington’s plan to win its way back on the foul line with back-to-back drives, closing the gap to 42-37 on three foul shots and a layup with 6:36 left.

Burger held the margin at five, 44-39, with a foul line jumper.

Seconds later, Franks laid in her own putback, lighting the Warrior torch for a 9-0 Windsor run.

With 3:47 left, it spelled the end for Torrington.

“I’m proud of our effort,” said Coach Fritch. “I thought we’d be good, but nobody expected us to get this far.

Windsor keeps honing its own expectations against No. 1 Pomperaug in the semifinals Friday at a time and place to be announced.

The Panthers beat No. 9 North Haven 61-32 in another Monday night quarterfinal.

WINDSOR 57, TORRINGTON 45

(at Torrington) WINDSOR ................. 15 9 14 19 — 57 TORRINGTON ......... 12 10 10 13 — 45 WINDSOR (57)

Hailey Rivera 1-0-2; Amaiya Stevens 12-5; Mikaela Williams 5-1-11; Jordyn BayKent 1-2-4; Ayanna Franks 15-3-35; Totals: 23-8/10-57.

TORRINGTON (45)

Rachel Brewer-Karimi 2-3-7; Amelia Boulli 2-1-6; Julianna Latina 3-0-6; Haley Burger 4-5-14; Leah Pergola 3-4-12; Totals: 14-13/25-45.

3-point goals: W — Stevens; Franks 2. T — Boulli; Burger; Pergola 2.

Records: Windsor 16-7. Torrington 19-5.

Peter Wallace/For Hearst Connecticut Media Torrington coaches Mike Fritch, right, and Erika Pratt console their team after losing to Windsor in the Class L quarterfinals on Monday night.