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Hand Girls’ Hoops Played Selfless on Way to Class L Crown

With a deep roster of talented athletes returning from a team that saw great playoff success last year, the Hand girls’ basketball squad knew that the 2016-’17 season could yield some amazing feats. However, it took the added element of an unselfish, focused, and committed group of athletes to make that possibility a reality.

After winning their first SCC championship and reaching the Class L State Tournament quarterfinals a year ago, Head Coach Tim Tredwell and the Tigers finished 17-3 fpr the regular season this winter. Along the way, Hand claimed its fourth consecutive division title by winning the SCC Quinnipiac crown. Hand then defeated Shelton and Hamden as the top seed in the SCC Tournament before losing to No. 2 Mercy in the third straight meeting between the teams in the conference final.

However, as it turns out, Hand was merely warming up for a run at the ultimate prize in the State Tournament. The 2nd-seeded Tigers defeated Law, Windsor, Woodstock Academy, and Pomperaug to reach the title game, where they used a dominating second-half comeback to beat top seed Holy Cross 50-45 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The victory marked the second state title in program history and first since 1999 for Hand, which finished with an overall record of 24-4 for the season.

“Coming off last season, I think everyone knew we had the potential to be very special. We had just enjoyed a 21-4 season, our third straight division title, and the first SCC title in school history. But the loss to New London in the state quarterfinals left everyone wanting more,” Coach Tredwell said. “We understood we would have to make up for the loss of Paula Materin and Gillian Kraemer. Paula was the most prolific shooter in team history and Gillian was a seasoned point guard who could do anything we asked her to do. We knew that if the kids put in the work in the offseason, we could be not just good, but great. Most importantly, the kids knew that and fed off it. They did the work. And it showed.”

Playing from early December through the middle of March can be quite a grind, and so Hand didn’t try to take on everything at once and look at the big picture right away. Instead, the Tigers took things day by day, while progressively acquiring the building blocks for their greater goal.

“We try not to focus on long-term goals like winning SCCs or winning states, but I think those kinds of things are always in the back of our minds. Instead, we try to be the best we can at every opportunity. We focused on the process, on playing present. If we could lock in to every rep in every drill in every practice, if we could focus on each possession in each game, we would have the potential to be very successful,” Tredwell said. “The fact that we won our division for the fourth consecutive season, reached the SCC finals for a third consecutive season, and won the Class L state title for the only the second time in school history shows what a tremendous job these kids did.”

Tredwell went onto praise his girls for playing with great pride and poise amidst the pressure of a state championship game—and coming away with the ultimate prize.

“Without a doubt, winning the Class L state championship was our biggest accomplishment of the year. Having the opportunity to go to Mohegan Sun and play in that arena in front of that many people with the chance to stake your claim as one of the best teams in the state is something that I think every kid who ever picks up a basketball dreams of doing,” said Tredwell. “I was incredibly proud of our girls, as they battled for 32 minutes, never backing down, never flinching and, in the end, being able to hold that trophy high. It’s a day I will never forget.”

The Tigers featured strong trio of seasoned seniors leading the way as their captains in Kaitlyn Martin, Gabby Martin, and Colleen Caruth. Gabby Martin reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career in Hand’s Class L state semifinal win over Pomperaug.

“Kaitlyn Martin has been one of the most fiercely positive players we’ve ever had. You could always hear her during practices or games talking to her teammates and getting people involved. Her speed, athleticism, and basketball IQ were obvious every moment she was on the court, as her harassing defense on the perimeter and tireless work in the paint made life difficult for opponents who were often bigger, stronger players,” said Tredwell. “Colleen Caruth has proven to be one of the most versatile bigs we’ve had. She ran the floor well, she could step out and hit jumpsuits and, every night, she battled down low with much bigger opponents. Her intensity on the defensive end was unmatched and proved to be a tremendous role model for our younger players. Gabby Martin has been a three-year starter at point guard for us and just did it all. She could score, rebound, her court vision and unselfishness was unmatched, and her defensive prowess proved to be a nightmare for anyone she was assigned to defend. She was the unquestioned leader of our team and everyone fed off her energy.”

Gabby Martin and junior Gabby Egidio both earned a spot on the All-SCC First Team and the New Haven Tap-Off Club All-Area Team. Martin was additionally chosen for the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Class L All-State Team.

Colleen Caruth and Kaitlyn Martin were selected as New Haven Tap-Off Club Scholar-Athletes. For team awards, Gabby Martin was named the Tigers’ Most Valuable Player, Kaitlyn Martin garnered Defensive Player of the Year recognition, and Hannah Martin was the Most Improved Player.

Like many teams coming off a state title campaign, the Tigers will part ways with several key pieces to the puzzle, while having a target on their backs as the defending champs next season. Still, Hand is returning a group of underclass athletes who know what it takes to thrive on the big stage and have already shown that they have heart, hustle, and passion that are needed to continue the Tigers’ run of success.

“Losing three starters as valuable as Gabby, Kaitlyn and Colleen will obviously be difficult, but we return a skilled and experienced group that has been a part of one of the most successful runs in school history,” Tredwell said. “Gabby Egidio was our second leading scorer this past season and has the motor and defensive instincts to be a force in the SCC. Emma Sullivan has the confidence and shot-making ability to put up big numbers on any given night. Halle Freund, our leading rebounder this past season, has a versatile offensive game and can protect the rim with the best of them. Hannah Martin has the intensity and unselfish attitude to be a productive presence in our lineup. Sara Wohlgemuth has the skill, speed, and advanced basketball IQ to potentially become the next great point guard at Daniel Hand. Anna Beccia, Erickson Richard, and Summer Adams have all shown the potential and desire to contribute to another strong season.”

From the Sidelines

This was Tim Tredwell’s eighth season as Hand’s head coach. He was assisted by JV coach Kristina Ciotto and freshman coach Cynthia Morgan.

The Tigers won the SCC Quinnipiac Division with a perfect divisional mark of 8-0, fighting off Lyman Hall, Hillhouse, Law, and North Haven for the title.

For their five-game run in the Class L State Tournament, the Tigers’ average margin of victory was 26.2 points per contest.