Hot Shooting Sacred Heart Defeats Sheehan in SCC Semifinals
Junior Maddy Burke scored a game-high 19 points to lead top-ranked Sacred Heart Academy (21-2) to a 59-36 victory over fourth-seeded Sheehan in the SCC semifinals.
SHA hit 10 three-pointers in the game as it advanced to its fifth straight league title game. The Sharks will face Hamden (for the third straight year) in Wednesday’s final game at 5:30 p.m. at Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena.
After a tight first quarter of play, SHA used a 13-3 run to close out the final four minutes of the first half to take a 33-20 halftime lead. Burke (9 points) and Molly Gunning (6 points) led the way for the Sharks.
In the second half, the Sharks extended their lead to 16, 46-30. In the final quarter, SHA held Sheehan scored for more than six minutes and extended its lead to as many as 27, 59-32, with 2:09 remaining.
“Our defensive game plan was executed very well,” SHA heads coach Jason Kirck said. “We were able to use our defense to get to the offensive end and get the ball in space and hit some shots.”
Gunning hit four three-pointers to finish with 12 points, while senior Lyla D’Errico added 10 points, including two three-pointers.
“We have several goals each year, and getting to the SCC finals is one of them,” Kirck added. “We are looking forward to playing in the championship game for the fifth straight year.”
Sisters Jenna Wresien (14 points) and Megan Wresien (13 points) led the Titans (17-6).
Sheehan, which was playing in its second straight league semifinals, looks to rebound in the Class MM state tournament. Sheehan head coach Mike Busillo, “The girls were disappointed with the outcome, but we know we can play with anyone in our class and we now put our focus on our first state tournament game.”
SHA 16-17-13-12 = 59
Sheehan 15-5-10-6 = 36
Top Scorers:
SHA: Maddy Burke (19 points), Molly Gunning (12 points), Lyla D’Errico (10 points), Emily Mennillo (7 points), Lex Powell (7 points)
Sheehan: Jenna Wresien (14 points), Jenna Wresian (13 points), Susie Hotaling (7 points)
Records: SHA (21-2), Sheehan (17-6)
Hamden Holds Off Mercy to Advance to Third Straight SCC Final
The two-time defending SCC champions will get their shot to make it a three-peat.
Seventh-seeded Hamden held off third-seeded Mercy, 48-38, to advance to Wednesday’s league title game against top-ranked Sacred Heart Academy. It will be the third straight year the crosstown rivals will meet in the SCC final.
The first half was an offensive struggle for both teams. Mercy scored the first four points of the game, but Hamden went on a 7-0 run to take the lead. The Green Dragons extended their lead to 16-7 before Mercy’s Maddie Benigni scored eight points, including 6-of-6 from the free throw line, to make it 17-15 at halftime.
Hamden extended its lead to 13, 40-27, midway through the fourth quarter after a drive and layup from junior Aunee Brookshire.
The Tigers cut the lead to seven, 43-36, with 2:14 left, but Hamden’s Micah Pullen hit a clutch three-pointer during the next possession to push the lead to double digits.
Brookshire and Kamora Moore each scored a team-high 15 points, while Pullen added nine.
Hamden head coach Amanda Forcucci was pleased with her team’s effort, “We are a team that keeps on developing. We lost three players (now playing in college) and we had to start from scratch and kids had to step up. It wasn’t pretty tonight, but I am just very proud of how they competed.”
“It’s a privilege to play in the league championship,” Forcucci added. “We are definitely looking forward to it.”
Benigni led Mercy with a game-high 16 points and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
Mercy (17-6), which was making its 19th semifinal appearance, now sets its sights on the Class LL state tournament.
“We weren’t our best tonight and credit to Hamden for playing aggressive defense,” Mercy head coach Tim Kohs said. “We will regroup and get ready for the state tournament.”
Hamden 13-4-13-18 = 48
Mercy 7-8-10-13 = 38
Top Scorers:
Hamden: Kamora Moore (15 points), Aunee Brookshire (15 points), Micah Pullen (9 points)
Mercy: Maddie Benigni (16 points), Mercedes Artaiz (8 points)
Records: Hamden (16-7), Mercy (16-7)
