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03/07/2021 11:00 PM

Valley Girls’ Hoops Gets the Trifecta; Boys’ Hockey in Quarantine


Senior captain Alena Crosby and the Valley Regional girls’ basketball team won all three of their contests last week to move to 5-3 on the season. Crosby scored 15 points in the Warriors’ 71-35 win over Portland on March 1. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

Girls’ Basketball

The Valley Regional girls’ basketball squad played three games last week and came away with wins in all three contests. The Warriors had Portland, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook on the slate, and with three victories, Valley’s record improved to 5-3 on the season.

On March 1, the Warriors hosted Portland and earned a lopsided 71-35 win over the Highlanders. The first quarter was relatively even with Valley only leading 17-15 at the end of the frame. In the second quarter, the Warriors’ defense locked down as they held the Portland scoreless to take a 34-15 lead into halftime. Valley grew its edge with an 18-11 third quarter and outscored the Highlanders 19-9 in the final frame en route to the 71-35 victory.

Valley saw solid contributions from Alena Crosby, who provided 15 points, and Abby Bradbury, who added 13 points. Liz Allen picked up 10 points, while Ava Cunningham supplied eight points. The Warriors also received points from Bitzy Klomp (6), Olivia Cunningham (4), Libby Cap (4), Siena Schaller (4), Addi Marchese (3), Lily Grow (2), and Hannah Jenkins (2).

The next day, the Warriors headed to Old Saybrook and secured a 62-37 road win over the Rams. Valley took a 19-9 lead right out of the gate and added to their edge in the second quarter for a 31-19 advantage at halftime. Valley blew the game open with a 31-18 second half tally to claim the 62-37 victory.

Bradbury poured in 26 points for the Warriors, and Grow also put up a tidy 16 points in the win. Crosby supplied six points, while Schaller and Allen added five points apiece. Klomp scored four points.

On March 6, the Warriors hosted Westbrook and earned a 72-35 home win against the Knights. Valley doubled up Westbrook with a 22-11 first quarter and continued to added to their lead with a 21-12 second quarter effort. With the score at 43-23 coming out of the half, the Warriors outscored Westbrook 14-9 in the third quarter, and 15-3 in the fourth en route to the 72-35 victory.

Grow had a big night with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Crosby notched 10 points, three boards, and two steals. Bradbury added 16 points, 12 boards, eight assists, and four steals. Allen provided five points, eight rebounds, and six steals. While Olivia Cunningham had nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Girls’ Ice Hockey

The Hand/Coginchaug/Valley Regional/Haddam-Killingworth girls’ ice hockey team moved to 2-6 on the year after losing a pair of games last week.

On March 4, the Tigers hosted West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy and took a 4-0 loss at Northford Ice Pavilion. Junior goalie Megan Hart made 36 saves on 40 shots in the game.

Two days later, the team dropped a 3-1 decision against Hamden-Wilbur Cross-Lyman Hall-O’Brien Tech at Northford Ice Pavilion. Sophomore Brooklyn Jepson scored the Tigers’ goal on an assist by fellow sophomore Brynn McKeown.

Boys’ Ice Hockey

The East Haven co-op boys’ ice hockey team went into quarantine last week due to potential exposure to COVID-19. Consequently, all of the Yellowjackets’ remaining regular-season games have been canceled.

East Haven’s scheduled contests against New Milford, North Branford, Watertown-Pomperaug, Sheehan, Hand—which were all slated to take place between March 8 and March 17—are now canceled as the team goes into quarantine. Head Coach Lou Pane’s squad could still potentially compete in the SCC Tournament after the regular season is finished. The Yellowjackets, who feature athletes from East Haven, Morgan, Old Saybrook, Valley Regional, East Hampton, and Old Lyme, have a record of 0-4 on the year.

Junior Ava Cunningham and the Warriors took a 72-35 win against Westbrook on March 6. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier