
Canton’s Maggie Treacy (23) and the Warriors play Thomaston Saturday morning at Mohegan Sun Arena for the Class S championship.
CANTON – The Canton High girls basketball team began the season with 15 consecutive victories. But they hit a rough patch in February going 4-4 over a eight-game stretch that included the final five games of the regular season and three games in the NCCC Tournament.
Canton’s struggles in February have helped the Warriors grow and improve. The Warriors have won three straight tournament games and earned a spot in the Class S state championship on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. against defending champion Thomaston at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Top-ranked Canton (22-4) is looking for the first state championship in the program’s history. No. 3 Thomaston (22-3), playing in the finals for the third consecutive season, is looking to retain its championship crown.
“I think when we went through that stretch when we were losing a lot of close games, people were saying what was wrong with us? What was wrong with us,” Canton’s second-year coach Brian Medeiros said. “I think (the players) saw from both sides (winning and losing) what happens when you don’t play for four quarters. You’ll lose those games.”
Earlier in the season, the Warriors got away with playing hard for two or three quarters or starting a game poorly. That didn’t work against Avon in February as the Falcons built a 16-point lead in the first quarter. Canton rallied to take the lead early in the fourth quarter but Avon re-asserted themselves to earn the win. The Warriors also got behind early in two losses to Enfield.
In the 52-42 semifinal win over Notre Dame Fairfield last week, the Warriors took an eight-point lead in the first quarter. While the contest was tied with 2:56 remaining, Canton had enough gas left in the tank to outscore Notre Dame, 12-2 to secure the win.
“You can’t take the fight out of these girls,” Medeiros said. “They fight to the final whistle.”
Medeiros told anyone who would listen a year ago that this would make it to the finals. In his first year, Canton went 16-8 before bowing out to Sacred Heart in the Class S quarterfinals. “Everyone told me I was crazy,” he said. “But I knew what we had and I knew what they could do. They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them and executed it to perfection.”
This team is similar to Canton’s last team to play for the championship. Canton’s 1998-99 team was a scrappy, aggressive team that played tough defense. It helped them win a NCCC championship and get to the Class S championship game where they lost to Valley Regional, 43-37.
In that rough stretch of the season, Medeiros would see a head drop after a bad play or a mistake. He preached to his team to continue playing.
“How can we make up for a mistake and get it back?” he told his team prior to the win over Notre Dame. “Maybe it is boxing out. Maybe, it is deflection. There can’t be any sulking. We have to be positive all day and good things will happen.”
Junior Maggie Treacy is Canton’s leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points a game. She had just 12 points in the win over Notre Dame but kept making plays. “I told her she may not shoot well (against Notre Dame) but I needed her to control the game, take care of the ball offensively, rebound, play defense and do all the things you’re capable of doing,” Medeiros said.
Sophomore Emily Briggs averaged 15 points a game this season but has averaged 19.1 points in six postseason contests including 27 in the quarterfinal win over Old Lyme and 23 against Notre Dame. “She’s a special player,” Medeiros said. “She is multi-talented with the ball. She can post up, she can handle it, she can drive and shoot it. Her game is continuing to develop.”
Gabby Rose (8.7 ppg) and Jacquie Grabowski (5.4 ppg) are doing a lot of the dirty work under the boards, securing rebounds to allow Canton to stay in games. Against Notre Dame, the Warriors pulled down 48 rebounds, including 37 on the defensive end. Rose had 12 rebounds while Grabowski had eight. “They were outsized and outmatched (against Notre Dame) but you couldn’t tell by how hard they were working,” Medeiros said.
Katie Walker and Emma Charron are contributing at guard.
“Everyone who played (against Notre Dame) found a way to contribute,” Medeiros said. If Canton is going to win its first championship in girls basketball, contributions from everyone will be necessary.
Thomaston has just two seniors but they are playing with a confidence that comes from winning multiple Berkshire League championships and getting to the Class S championship game for three consecutive seasons.
Two years ago, the Bears were dominated in the title game in an 84-55 loss to Capital Prep. Last March, Thomaston had a thrilling 61-57 win over St. Paul in double overtime to win its first state championship since 1993. The Bears trailed by as many as 10 points before rallying to win.
Junior Morgan Sanson and 6-foot sophomore center Casey Carangelo (21 points, nine rebounds) played big roles in Thomaston’s championship win a year ago. This year, Sanson is Thomaston’s leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points during the regular season. Carangelo averaged 13.6 points with junior Gabby Hurlbert averaging 8.3.
Like Canton, the Bears like to play an aggressive style of defense. Sophomore Julia Quinn was a spark plug that ignited the Bears in the semifinal victory over Immaculate-Danbury.
“We don’t want to lose,” Sanson said. “Everyone has that mentality. We put it all out on the court every time. We battle.”
Thomaston lost to Notre Dame Fairfield, 68-65 in December and to New London, 54-45. Their only Berkshire League defeat came in a one-point loss to Nonnewaug in January, 51-50. The Bears have won their last 11 games.
In the Class S tournament, the Bears whipped O’Brien Tech, 69-23 and outlasted Windsor Locks, 48-34. In the semifinals against Immaculate, the Bears took a quick 6-0 lead and never trailed in a 57-41 victory. Sanson had a game-high 22 while Hurlbert added 11. Carangelo, saddled with some early fouls, had seven points in the second half.
Class S championship
No. 1 Canton vs. No. 3 Thomaston
Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m.
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville
Records: Canton (22-4), Thomaston (22-3)
Road to final: Thomaston — Def. O’Brien Tech, 69-23 in 2nd round; Def. Windsor Locks, 48-34 in quarterfinals; Def. Immaculate in semifinal, 57-41; Canton — Def. Kolbe Cathedral, 62-55 in 2nd round; Def. Old Lyme, 63-52 in quarterfinals; Def. Notre Dame-Fairfield, 52-42 in semifinal
TV: CPTV Sports (live)
Top players: Canton – Emily Briggs, Maggie Treacy, Jacquie Grabowski, Gabby Rose, Katie Walker; Thomaston – Morgan Sanson, Casey Carangelo, Gabrielle Hurlbert, Julia Quinn
Championship record: Canton 0-2, Thomaston 2-3
Last championship game appearance: Canton 1999, Thomaston 2014
Of note: Canton shared the NCCC championship with Avon. Thomaston won the Berkshire League title and the BL Tournament. … The game will be broadcast live on CPTV Sports, which can be found on most cable networks. … It is believed to be the first game between the two teams since 1988 when Thomaston beat Canton, 42-38 in the second round of the 1988 Class S tournament. … The two teams did play against each other in the 1930s. … Canton parents and fans will send off the team early Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. from Canton High.
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.


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