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12/27/2017 11:00 PMOne year after claiming its second state title in team history, the Hand girls’ basketball squad has a big-time bull’s-eye on its back entering the 2017-’18 season. However, the Tigers are still planning on exiting the season having left their stamp on the program’s championship legacy.
Last winter, Head Coach Tim Tredwell and the Tigers finished 17-3 for the regular season and also won their fourth consecutive division title by taking the SCC Oronoque crown. Hand then defeated Shelton and Hamden as the top seed in the SCC Tournament before losing to No. 2 seed Mercy in the third straight meeting between the teams in the conference final. In states, the 2nd-seeded Tigers posted wins over 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 first state title since 1999 for Hand, which finished with an overall record of 24-4.
Thus far this year, Hand has lost to defending SCC champion Mercy and Notre Dame-Fairfield, but also bested Weaver and Career to stand with an early mark of 2-2. Coach Tredwell said that while his returning athletes know they have some large shoes to fill, they are simply focusing on handling their responsibilities one day, one game, and one possession at a time.
“Our goals don’t change year to year. Coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history, we cannot get caught up comparing ourselves to last year’s team. It’s the same program, but it’s a new team with a new identity, and these kids want to leave a mark of their own,” said Tredwell. “But this group knows our expectations and will work very hard to maintain the level of success we’ve had. I think being involved with a program that has showed steady improvement every year for eight straight years, nobody wants to be a part of the team that finally took a step back. So we want to approach every day with the mindset of being better than we were the day before. On game day, we’re focused on taking care of the task at hand, on playing present. If we can be mentally tough enough to focus on doing our jobs each possession, the results will take care of themselves.”
Senior guards Emma Sullivan and Gabby Egidio are leading the charge for Hand as its senior captains this year. Coach Tredwell said that both athletes bring the right blend of fire on the floor and ice water in their veins to the Tigers.
“Emma Sullivan has been a steady contributor for us since her sophomore year. She’s always in the right spot offensively and defensively and never gets rattled by the moment. As a senior who’s been involved with more than her share of big moments, we expect her to continue her high level of play all over the floor,” Tredwell said. “Gabby Egidio has also been an integral part of our success for the last two seasons. She has an exceptionally high motor, is a very strong defender, and capable of scoring in bunches. Her positive leadership will be relied on heavily to set the tone for our team.”
Hand’s senior class addtionally features center Halle Freund, who was the team’s top rebounder and shot blocker last year, along with forward Hannah Martin. The Tigers also have a young spark in their the lineup with sophomore and second-year varsity player Sara Wohlgemuth running the point.
“Halle Freund has improved her offense exponentially since coming to Hand. She will provide a strong scoring presence in the paint, as well as the ability to protect the rim on the defensive end. Hannah Martin was an unsung hero for us last season. She’s a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and, while a very capable scorer, is extremely unselfish on the offensive end,” said Tredwell. “Sara Wohlgemuth could be one of the most dynamic guards in the state. Her explosive speed, maturity, and high basketball IQ has her more than ready to take over the reins from [Class of 2017 graduate] Gabby Martin this season.”
After dropping a home game versus Mercy, Hand picked up its first win of the year when it routed non-conference opponent Weaver 72-32 on Dec. 18. Wohlgemuth scored a game-high and career-high 22 points, while adding seven assists, four rebounds, and four steals. Sullivan chipped in with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Freund dropped in six points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Hand shot 51 percent from the floor and forced Weaver into 31 turnovers in the victory.
Hand was off and running right from the tap with Wohlgemuth scoring 11 of her 22 in the first quarter to help the Tigers take a 25-2 lead after one. Weaver turned the ball over six times and shot just 2-for-12 in the second quarter as Hand stretched the advantage to 43-7 at halftime. This trend continued in the third with Hand outscored Weaver 20-5 to take a 63-12 lead into the final frame. Weaver found its shooting touch in the fourth, but it was too late, and the Tigers came away with the lopsided win.
Three nights later, Hand edged out Career 68-65 in a SCC matchup. Egidio scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to with four assists. Freund racked up 18 points, nine boards, five blocks, and four steals. Wohlgemuth chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Hand shot 49 percent from the floor, but just 46 percent from the free-throw line.
After Career started the contest with a three-point play, Hand used its running game to sprint out to a 10-5 lead. Career responded with a 7-0 run, setting the tone for the night. Freshman Grace Hartmann’s three at the buzzer pulled the Tigers within two at the end of one. The second quarter was more of the same as both teams were scoring at will. Career’s buzzer-beating runner tied the game at 33 going into the half. The third quarter belonged to Egidio and Freund as Freund posted 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Egidio continued her hot shooting with seven points. However, Career was equal to the task, going 7-for-12 from the field, including four threes, to keep the game tied heading into the fourth. Both teams continued trading baskets for the final eight minutes, but on this night, the Tigers had a little more in the tank as they survived a last-second three-point attempt by Panthers to hang on for the win.
Hand later took a 63-52 loss to Notre Dame-Fairfield in the opening round of the Lancers’ Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27.
As it plunges into the regular season, Hand has to traverse a schedule that’s loaded with top-tier opponents. However, Coach Tredwell knows that such a challenging slate is in the best interest of the Tigers, who are looking to grow from facing stiff competition in the regular season in an effort to go on another gold rush during the postseason.
“Rivalry games against Guilford, as well as divisional contests with Law, Lyman Hall, and Hillhouse, always bring out the best in both teams. Our third consecutive trip to the Notre Dame-Fairfield Holiday tourney, featuring New London and Thomaston, has been a great way to prepare for both the SCC schedule, as well as postseason play,” Tredwell said. “I expect some growing pains early on as we adjust to the loss of three tremendous seniors. As the 2017 Class L champion, we have to expect that we will have a target on our back every night. But with the talented and experienced group we have returning, as well as some very capable newcomers, I think we have the potential to have a lot of fun this season.”
From the Sidelines
Tim Tredwell is back for his ninth season as the head coach of the Hand girls’ basketbal squad.
The assistant coaches for the Tigers this year are JV coach Kristina Ciotto and freshman coach Cynthia Morgan.
Hand is once again playing in the SCC Oronoque Division with Law, Hillhouse, Lyman Hall, and North Haven.