Classes LL, MM and S played their second rounds on day four of the CIAC girls basketball tournaments.
Class L and M both played second round games Tuesday while Class LL, MM and S continued their tournaments Wednesday.
The quarterfinals for L and M will be Thursday while LL, MM and S will play quarterfinals Friday at sites of the higher seeds.
Here's what you need to know from Day 4:
End of an Arel
With No. 6 Gilbert's defeat to No. 11 East Granby in Class S, the career of one of the state's all-time great scorers comes to an end.
Emily Arel scored 36 points in the game and finishes her career fourth on the state's all-time scoring list with 2,405 points. In the game, the Berkshire League's all-time leading scorer, passed Symone Roberts of New Britain who had 2,374 points.
Close caLLs
Two of Class LL's top seeds barely escaped the second round.
No. 1 seeded Holy Cross needed a free throw by junior center Quinn Barry with 33.5 seconds left to escape with a 45-44 win over No. 16 Newington. Barry hit four free throws with just over a minute left to tie the game after Newington received two technical fouls. Holy Cross will face No. 8 Mercy in the quarterfinals. The Crusaders beat the Tigers by one on Dec. 27.
In their fourth meeting this season, No. 4 Sacred Heart Academy held on for a 45-44 win over crosstown rival No. 13 Hamden. The Sharks went 4-0 against the Green Dragons this winter. Hamden's run of back-to-back state champions comes to an end. It was the first state tournament loss for Hamden since March, 3, 2022 when it lost in overtime to Hillhouse in the second round. They won nine-straight state tournament games in that stretch. The Sharks will host No. 5 Conard in the quarterfinals. SHA eliminated Conard last year in the semifinals 68-54.
Despite the close calls, all the seeds held in Class LL with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Class S runs through us
Class S has turned into the Shoreline Conference and NCCC Open. All eight quarterfinalists are from one of those two conferences. Each is also guaranteed at least one semifinalist with a NCCC showdown between No. 11 East Granby and No. 14 Canton, both of whom pulled upsets in the second round, and a Shoreline matchup between No. 5 Hale Ray and No. 4 Morgan.
Class S got there with a series of upsets in the second round. Canton beat No. 3 Coginchaug 56-51; No. 9 Old Saybrook beat No. 8 Housatonic 54-36; No. 11 East Granby defeated No. 6 Gilbert, 60-48, and No. 16 Somers upset No. 1 Innovation, 49-44. Innovation was the first No. 1 seed eliminated this year.
The NCCC also has two quarterfinalists in Class MM in No. 12 Ellington and No. 7 Suffield. Suffield beat No. 10 North Haven 69-59 and Ellington defeated No. 28 Waterford 52-28. No. 9 East Windsor/Bloomfield is representing the NCCC in the Class M quarterfinals.
Top Performers
Urielle Abrokwa, East Catholic: The center scored 32 points as the top-seeded Eagles beat No. 17 Branford 77-45.
Maddie Benigni, Mercy: The junior guard scored 32 points, making five 3-pointers, as No. 8 Mercy rolled over No. 9 Glastonbury 63-34.
Izzy Leggett, Southington: The senior guard had a game-high 24 points as the No. 2 Blue Knights beat No. 15 New Britain 70-43.
Emily Mennillo, Sacred Heart Academy: The senior guard had 22 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter in a 45-44 win against No. 13 Hamden.
Megan Wresien, Sheehan: In a 37-29 win over No. 14 Foran, Wresien scored 18 points to lead the No. 3 Titans.
March 5, 2025
Sports Writer/Podcast Host
Scott Ericson is a high school sports writer with GameTimeCT, focusing on boys soccer, girls basketball, baseball and football. Co-hosts the "High and Tight" baseball podcast. Lifelong Connecticut resident, thinks Roseland Apizza in Derby is the best in the state.