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02/16/2019 11:00 PMGirls’ Basketball
The East Haven girls’ basketball team finished its regular season by taking a one-point loss to Mercy, but then opened the postseason by earning a 74-38 victory versus Foran in the quarterfinals of the Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament last week. The Yellowjackets, who are the No. 1 seed in the tournament, improved to 17-4 overall and advanced to face No. 5 seed Wilbur Cross in the SCC semifinals.
One week after winning its fourth straight division title, East Haven hosted Mercy in its regular season finale and took a 55-54 defeat on Feb. 11. East Haven held a 39-29 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Mercy outscored the Yellowjackets 26-15 during the final frame to come away with the one-point win. Senior captain Makenzie Helms scored 21 points in the loss. Sophomore Erin Curran hit three 3-points to score nine points for the Yellowjackets, who went 16-4 in the regular season.
As the top seed in the SCC Tournament, East Haven took on No. 9 seed Foran in a quarterfinal contest at Sheehan High School on Feb. 16. The Yellowjackets outscored Foran 42-11 during the first half and never looked back en route to the 74-38 blowout. Curran led all scorers with 17 points, while Helms scored 13 points for East Haven. Senior Alannah Doheny scored 11 points, sophomore Taylor Salato had 10 points, and junior captain Alexis Penzdiwater added nine points for the Easties.
The Yellowjackets played No. 5 seed Cross in the SCC Tournament semifinals at Law High School on Feb. 18 (after press time). With a win, the Easties would have faced the winner of 2nd-seeded Hamden and No. 6 seed Sheehan for the SCC title at Hamden High School on Feb. 20 (after press time).
Girls’ Indoor Track
Sophomore Kisha Francois competed in a pair of events for East Haven at the State Open Championship at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb. 16.
Francois posted a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet-5.5 inches at the Open. Francois’s performance resulted in four points for the Yellowjackets that put them in 29th place at the meet. Francois had previously finished second in the long jump at the SCC West Sectional Championship (17-6.5), third in the SCC Championship (16-9.75), and fourth at the Class M State Championship (16-7).
Francois also competed in 55-meter dash at the State Open, placing ninth in the preliminary heat with a time of 7.41 seconds. Francois’s time was her fastest in a postseason that’s seen her win the 55 at the West Sectional meet (7.43), place second at SCCs (7.45), and then take third at states (7.47).
Boys’ Ice Hockey
On the heels of clinching a spot in the playoffs, the Yellowjackets gutted out a 1-0 road victory over Hall-Southington last week to improve to 8-8-2 on the season.
Junior goalie Logan Hamilton played an outstanding game in the shutout, making 43 saves to help the Easties get the win at Veterans Memorial Rink in West Hartford on Feb. 13. Morgan sophomore Ryan Egan scored an unassisted goal for the game-winner at the 5:05 mark of the third period.
Boys’ Basketball
East Haven lost a pair of contests last week to move to 6-13 with one game left in the season.
On Feb. 13, East Haven hosted Shelton and lost by a 58-52 final. East Haven was up by a point going into the fourth quarter, but the Gaels rallied for the victory. Senior captain Nate Furino scored 23 points for the Yellowjackets, while sophomore Ian Reynolds had 15 points.
Two nights later, East Haven took a 42-37 defeat at Lyman Hall. Sophomore Nick Fuino scored 11 points on the night.