WINDSOR LOCKS — Aliza Sobol didn't play in the Coventry girls basketball team's North Central Connecticut Conference Tournament semifinal win over East Granby Friday.
And through three quarters in Tuesday's final against Suffield, the only time the 4-foot-11 freshman guard got off her seat was to cheer on her teammates.
But with 3:55 to go and the Patriots hanging on to a three-point lead, coach Kevin Clancy called on Sobol after Ava Topliff became the second Coventry player to foul out.
"It means a lot to me that he trusted me in a high-pressure situation," Sobol said. "That can be a lot for people to handle but I was ready."
She had listened to her Kobe Bryant motivational tapes before the game and when her number was called, she delivered.
Sobol was a spark plug defensively and her two free throws in the final minute helped top-seeded Coventry hold off No. 3 Suffield 46-40 and capture the first NCCC tournament title in school history.
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"I'm small so I usually don't bring a lot," Sobol said. "(Bryant) talks about the energy you have to bring. I felt confident and those things fueled me."
The conference tournament title is the first for the Patriots (20-3) since the Jen Davis-led teams won back-to-back Charter Oak Conference Tournament crowns in 1992-93. It was the first appearance in the NCCC final for the regular-season champions, who do not have a senior on their roster.
"We do have a lot of freshmen who do play a lot," Clancy said. "But I knew that we had something special. I don't think we need seniors because our juniors are such good leaders. They've all bought into the program and bought into each other."
Freshman Danielle Wheeler, who had 13 points Tuesday, was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Jianna Foran, the second straight year she's been selected, Suffield's Hazel Qua — also her second consecutive selection — and River Seagrave, Ellington's Julia Laughlan, and East Granby's Chloe Rapose.
Coventry led 26-23 at halftime and 38-29 going to the fourth quarter. Qua's three-point play capped a 7-0 run for the Wildcats with 5:20 to go. Suffield would score only one more point until Qua hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Sobol came in and immediately raced to dive on a loose ball and force a jump ball. She then drew an offensive foul on Seagrave to stop one threat. Up four with 10 seconds left, she sank two free throw to make it a six-point lead.
"She's amazing and works so hard in everything she does," Wheeler said. "She puts in the extra work and she deserves that moment."
A free throw by Hailey Mayo and two free throws by Wheeler iced it.
"She was an absolute hero," Clancy said of Sobol. "She's a kid who shows up to work at practice every day and is so coachable. She's so mentally tough. She's never, 'whoa is me.' It's, 'How can I continue to improve.' She was absolutely a monster out there."
Mayo added 11 points while Reese Jeamal contributed 10 points off the bench for Coventry. Qua had 23 points, seven rebounds, and eight steals for Suffield (16-7).
The Wildcats had beaten Coventry 61-53 on Feb. 3.
"We hit more shots the first time and they did not shoot the ball well the first time," Suffield coach Jason Qua said. "They came out shooting the ball a lot better and were more prepared for the pressure we put on them the first meeting."
Suffield is the No. 7 seed in the Class MM tournament and entertains No. 26 Avon in a first-round game Monday.
"I feel good because we keep getting better," Qua said. "We start two freshmen and two sophomores with our one senior so our potential is great. We haven't played our best basketball yet. So we're all excited to play against that competition."
Coventry is the No. 2 seed in the Class S tournament and receives a first-round bye. It will host the winner of Monday's game between No. 18 Lyman Memorial and No. 15 Wright Tech for a spot in the quarterfinals on March 5.
The Patriots reached the Class S final in 2022. No players from that team remain on the team.
"This is really amazing and it means a lot to us," Wheeler said. "We work really hard and Coach pushes us. We are very supportive of each other and we push hard to do what we need to get done."
Player of the game
Danielle Wheeler, Coventry. The freshman guard scored eight of her 13 points in the first quarter and hit two free throws with 3.7 seconds left as the Patriots won their first NCCC Tournament title.
Quotable
"It was stressful but I calmed myself down and thought, 'Coach needs me.' I succeeded. We just made history." — Coventry freshman guard Aliza Sobol on her last-minute free throws and the Patriots' title.
NCCC all-stars
The following were named to the NCCC all-conference team: Alyssa Diehl (Bolton), Ruby Theberge (Canton), Jianna Foran (Coventry), Hailey Mayo (Coventry), Chloe Rapose (East Granby), Ava Walsh (East Granby), Kyelah Smith (East Windsor/Bloomfield), Bailey Winner (East Windsor/Bloomfield), Lyndsie Kozik (Ellington), Julia Laughlan (Ellington), Liana Wheelock-Bonet (Rockville), Jayel Verdejo (SMSA), Sydney Cassidy (Somers), Maya Skalski (Somers), Mia Crunden (Suffield), Jalisa Matthews (Granby), Hazel Qua (Suffield), Maeve McGinnis (Windsor Locks)
(at Windsor Locks High) Suffield 12 11 6 11 — 40 Coventry 14 12 12 8 — 46 Suffield (40) Addison Holmes 0 1 0-0 3, Hazel Qua 7 1 6-11 23, River Seagrave 3 0 0-1 6, Hannah Schulz 1 0 1-2 3, Ava Petkovich 0 0 0-0 0, Alexandra Eddy 1 0 3-4 5. Totals 12 2 10-18 40. Coventry (46) Aliza Sobol 0 0 2-2 2, Ava Vieira 1 0 2-2 4, Celina Cunha 0 0 0-0 0, Ava Topliff 0 0 0-0 0, Reese Jeamel 1 2 2-2 10, Jianna Foran 3 0 0-0 6, Danielle Wheeler 1 3 2-2 13, Hailey Mayo 2 0 7-12 11. Totals 8 5 15-20 46.