Top-seeded Hamden captured its second straight SCC girls basketball title with a 82-58 victory over #2 Sacred Heart Academy before 1,702 at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena. It was the Green Dragons’ fifth SCC title (2023, 2021, 2020 and 2019).
For the first time since the SCC expanded its playoff field back in 2007, sixteen teams qualified for the league tournament, presented by Vertical Hoops.
Hamden jumped out to a 6-0 lead and extended its lead to 22-12 after one quarter. In the second quarter, the Sharks cut the lead to 28-20 but the Green Dragons went on a 15-8 run to end the half culminated with a Gianna Donnarummo three-pointer with 4 seconds remaining. In the second half, the Sharks would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
SCC Player of the Year Alana Philpotts scored a game-high 21 points and added six rebounds, while Donnarummo added 20, including three three-point goals. Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kamora Moore added 16 points and four assists, while Leah Philpotts had a double double (15 points, 15 rebounds).
Emily Mennillo led SHA (22-2) with 20 points and four steals, including 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and Morgan Miller added 16 points, Lauren Thompson scored 10 points.
Semifinal Recap: The top two seeds, Hamden and Sacred Heart Academy, have both advanced to the SCC girls basketball championship game on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. Click to purchase tickets
The top-seeded Green Dragons held off #5 Sheehan, 42-41, in the semifinals. Leah Philpotts led Hamden (20-3) with 12 points. Megan Wressien led Sheehan (17-6) with a game-high 15 points. #2 SHA, behind a game-high 17 points from Emily Mennillo and Meghan Kirck, defeated #5 North Haven, 73-49. It is a rematch of the 2023 SCC championship game – won by Hamden.
First Round – Thursday, Feb. 15
#1 Hamden 69, #16 Cheshire 40
#2 Sacred Heart Academy 61, #15 Lyman Hall 29
#3 Amity Regional 53, #14 Guilford 36
#4 Mercy 53, #13 Daniel Hand 22
#5 Sheehan 66, #12 Branford 31
#6 North Haven 71, #11 Hillhouse 42
#10 West Haven 46, #7 Foran 42
#8 East Haven 46, #9 Jonathan Law 38
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 17 @Sheehan HS
#1 Hamden 66, #8 East Haven 18 – GAME MVP – Alana and Leah Philpotts, Hamden
Leading scorers: H – Alana Philpotts (20 points), Leah Philpotts (12); EH – Julianna Iovino (7 points)
#5 Sheehan 54, #4 Mercy 40 – GAME MVP – Jenna Wresien and Liv Cassesse, Sheehan
Leading scorers: S: Liv Cassesse (14 points); M – Madison Benigni (14 points)
#2 Sacred Heart Academy 69, #10 West Haven 32 – GAME MVP – Emily Mennillo, SHA
Leading scorers: SHA – Emily Mennillo (17 points); WH – Isabella Fiorillo (11 points)
#6 North Haven 59, #3 Amity Regional 57 – GAME MVP – Olivia Ball, North Haven
Leading Scorers: NH – Olivia Ball (21 points); A – Jillian Barnes (21 points)
Semifinals – Monday, Feb. 19 @Jonathan Law HS
#1 Hamden 42, #5 Sheehan 41 – GAME MVP – Leah Philpotts, Hamden
Leading Scorers: H – Leah Philpotts (12 points); S – Megan Wresien (15 points)
#2 Sacred Heart Academy 73, #6 North Haven 49 – GAME MVP – Emily Mennillo, SHA
Leading Scorers: SHA – Megan Kirck, Megan Mennillo (17 points); NH – Ava Johnson (11 points)
Championship Game – Wednesday, Feb. 21 @M&T Bank Arena – Quinnipiac University
#1 Hamden 82, #2 Sacred Heart Academy 58
Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Kamora Moore, Hamden
