CANTON, March 14 – For the Canton High girls basketball, the novelty of winning has worn off a bit.
The Warriors won 15 games during the regular season – its most victories in nearly 10 years. After two victories in the Class S tournament, the Warriors (17-8) were disappointed to be eliminated by a veteran Wamogo squad in a 57-45 defeat in the quarterfinals last week.
It’s easy to look back and see that just two years ago, the Warriors were completing their second straight 1-19 season. But on a team with no seniors and just three juniors, those other seasons are ancient history. This year’s team is anxious to win now. Paying your dues and waiting your turn is so 20th century.
A year ago, Canton stunned Wamogo with a two-point victory in the second round tournament that sent Wamogo home earlier than they had anticipated.
This year, Wamogo (23-1) ensured that Canton would be going home with a strong second half performance. Wamogo was patient, moved on offense and stopped settling for outside shots. Defensively, they began collapsing on sophomore Sarah Benedetti and cutting off guard Megan Roux’s route to the basket.
Benedetti’s third three-point shot of the game tied the game at 32-32 but a 9-3 Wamogo run put them in front to stay. Wamogo scored on a drive to the basket, a backdoor cut, another jumper, a pair of free throws and a layup.
“They’re big, strong and experienced,” Canton coach Jeanne Holian said. “They cut to the basket well. It seemed like we would stop them but someone else would step up and hit a basket.”
Canton used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to grab a 13-5 lead and led for most of the first half. “They pressured us and we broke it,” Holian said. “We got some back door shots and we did a nice job defensively to take away their two inside players and create turnovers.”
Benedetti finished with a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds while Roux, a sophomore point guard, repeatedly drove the basket for layups, especially in the first half. She finished with 16 points, her second-highest scoring performance of the year.
“They were disappointed at the end. But look at where they have brought the program to,” Holian said. Canton (17-9) earned the most wins since going 22-6 in 1999 and this was just the second winning season in the last eight years. “I’m proud of them. We had a great season this year,” she said.
Canton went 15-5 in the regular season with an 8-5 record in the NCCC. They had a thrilling 39-38 win over Granby, a satisfying 44-38 overtime win over Bolton and a 43-34 win over Coventry, which advanced into the Class S semifinals.
In the Class S tournament, Bendetti had a season-high 29 points and four 3-point shots in a 55-35 win over Lyman Memorial. The Warriors beat Kaynor Tech of Waterbury, 51-35 in the second round with 28 from Benedetti.
Benedetti and Roux earned All-NCCC honors. With Roux at point guard able to handle the pressure and score, it took pressure off Benedetti. Roux had a career-high 19 points in a win over Cognichaug and 15 points in wins over East Granby and Bolton in February.
Junior Sarah Getz, Lucy Mentzer and Danielle Coutu each had significant moments during the season. Getz had 13 points against East Granby while Coutu had 11 each in wins over East Windsor and Hartford Classical. Mentzer made her mark defensively and rebounding. Sophomore Katherine Curvino had 15 points in a December victory over Bolton.
Girls basketball
Class S quarterfinals: Wamogo 57, Canton 45
Class S 2nd round: Canton 51, Kaynor Tech 35
Class S 1st round: Canton 55, Lyman Memorial 35
2009 NCCC Tournament
Championship
Avon 33, Tolland 21, OT
Consolation
Ellington 65, Coventry 54
Semifinals
Avon 68, Coventry 43
Tolland 49, Ellington 43
Quarterfinals
Avon 62, Suffield 26
Coventry 48, Somers 25
Ellington 62, Canton 44
Tolland 48, Bolton 31
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