Hoop teams that beat Avon go far
UNCASVILLE, Conn., March 21 – The two teams that eliminated the Avon High boys and girls basketball teams each won a state championship.
Hillhouse, which eliminated the Avon girls team, beat Fairfield Warde, 65-59 on Friday night for the Class L title in front of 3,554 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arenea. The game was tied seven times in the fourth quarter but Hillhouse’s Bria Holmes scored on a layup with 2:16 remaining to start a 10-2 run to close out the game. Hillhouse (25-2) beat three undefeated teams including Warde (26-1), Avon in the semifinals and Kolbe Cathedral in the quarterfinals to win its seventh state title.
On the boys side, No. 25 Bulkeley of Hartford (15-9) began a magical run to the Class L championship game with a win over No. 8 Avon in the first round. Since then, the Bulldogs eliminated Bassick-Bridgeport, top-ranked Trinity Catholic in the quarterfinals, 67-62 and No. 5 Northwest Catholic in the semifinals, 65-51. Bulkeley beat No. 10 Torrington in the championship game with a basket with five seconds left in regulation.