CROMWELL — Coventry's Reese Jeamel would start for most girls basketball teams in the North Central Connecticut Conference and likely for many in the CIAC Class S tournament field.
While the 6-foot freshman forward has joined the Patriots' starting lineup on a few occasions, one of the key reasons Coventry is a win away from its first CIAC crown in 37 years is her contributions off the bench.
The second-seeded Patriots take on No. 4 Morgan for the Class S championship Sunday at 10 a.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena.
"The way that I would describe her demeanor and her character is with one word, 'swagger,' " Coventry coach Kevin Clancy said. "She has a swag about her. Her confidence has increased a ton throughout the season. Our coaches have been preaching to her about how good she is and how dominant she can be. She just has to buy into that and believe it herself. She's done that.
"The energy she brings with her onto the court is awesome. We could talk about it for days. She has that athleticism and skill, but, really, her energy is unmatched a lot of time."
A good example of what she's done much of the season came in Tuesday's semifinal win over East Granby.
With Coventry leading by one, Jeamel and classmate Hailey Mayo combined for 16 points in an 18-2 second-quarter run that broke the game open. The Patriots didn't look back as they posted the 53-27 victory.
"I have to be a spark, but I do think we're an energetic team to start," Jeamel said. "We always have energy. We have each other to keep us up and not get down. It's easy to be in high spirits with this team.
"When I watch at the start I look for where we might be lacking, whether it's offense or defense and what I can do. Do we need to attack more on offense? Where can I help on defense?"
In her reserve role, Jeamel ranks in the top four on the Patriots in scoring (fourth at 8.2), rebounding (third at 6.3), steals (third at 1.5) and blocked shots (second at 1.3).
But in six postseason games that saw Coventry add its first NCCC Tournament title to its regular-season crown and advance to its second Class S final in four years, she's averaged 9.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 2.3 blocked shots. That includes a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Class S quarterfinal win over North Branford.
"Honestly, her energy is unmatched," Coventry junior co-captain Ava Topliff said. "Anytime she goes up strong in the paint for an and-one, or Hailey has an and-one, or Jianna (Foran) has an and-one, she's the first to get hyped, high-fiving, and screaming in your face. She gets me pumped up, gets us motivated, and brings the team's energy to another level. It's important to us when she comes in whether it's the first or second quarter. The whole game shifts.
"I don't know if it is unusual for a freshman but it's certainly something special for our team. Having that be a huge presence and that she is not afraid to show it, brings confidence and cohesiveness to our team. She keeps us balanced."
While Coventry is in the Class S final for the second time in four seasons, no player on the current roster was on the team for the 2022 loss to Thomaston.
Of the 11 players, four are juniors, one is a sophomore, and six are freshmen with Danielle Wheeler, the Most Valuable Player of the NCCC Tournament, joining Mayo and three juniors in the starting lineup.
Coventry opened the season with eight wins before falling at Woodstock Academy on Jan. 13. It won five in a row before losses to Windham and Suffield sandwiched around a win over Canton. Windham will play for the Class M title Saturday while Woodstock and Suffield reached the Class MM quarterfinals.
The Patriots will take a season-high nine-game winning streak to Mohegan Sun Arena.
"We're a young team, but from the first day we all clicked instantly," Jeamel said. "We've played well as a team. We play Coventry basketball. Our coaches have pushed us to be the best. The day that I came in I liked basketball and now I love it. Coach pushed me to love the game. I think I've become more confident through him and he's shown me that I can be a great player."
Topliff said that Jeamel has attacked the basket more down the stretch and the added offense she's brought along with her solid defense has been a gamechanger for the Patriots.
Her effort game-in and game-out is never in question.
"There would be times early in the season I'd be, 'C'mon Reese, we need more from you,' but when it's game time she's ready to go," Clancy said.
"With her confidence, she's still a humble kid. She has started a few games but she has taken on that role of coming off the bench and embraced it. If there was a sixth-man award she would earn it for sure. She wants to win. She doesn't care how she fits in to do that. She'll do what her coaches and teammates ask for us to be successful."
Coventry's only Class S title came in 1988 as it defeated Kolbe Cathedral behind Leslie Danehy. The Patriots have lost their last three finals appearances.
For Jeamel, whose favorite player is UConn All-American Paige Bueckers, it's her second state final in seven months of high school. She was on the roster for Coventry's run to the Class S girls volleyball championship match in November.
"It's a surreal feeling to have this happening to me so young and being able to do it with all of my friends," Jeamel said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it's already happened twice and I hope that it keeps happening."
She doesn't take her good fortune for granted.
While their best year potentially may be a year away, Jeamel and the Patriots believe their time is now.
"We always hear that we're young, but it doesn't matter," Jeamel said. "We're going to go out and play Coventry basketball and we're going out there to win."
March 14, 2025
Staff writer
Carl Adamec joined the Hearst Connecticut Media Group in June 2023 when the company purchased the Journal Inquirer. A graduate of Putnam High in Connecticut and St. John's University in New York, he's been honored by the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association and Connecticut American Legion baseball program in his time at the JI and was inducted into the United States Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.