Canton girls top Kolbe in Class S tournament opener

Canton’s Maggie Treacy (23) had a game-high 22 points in Friday night’s win over Kolbe Cathedral in Canton.

CANTON, March 6 – The top-ranked Canton High girls basketball went toe-to-toe with No. 17 Kolbe Cathedral Friday night and prevailed in a 62-55 decision in the second round of the CIAC Class S tournament. This wasn’t your normal No. 17 seed. Kolbe plays in the Southwest Conference against teams from Class LL, L and M. There are few easy games for Kolbe, playing in a league against deeper squads. 

The two teams battled hard. The score was tied at halftime at 31-31. Kolbe (11-12) took a six-point lead, 42-38, sparked by three 3-point shots from Leah Hodges, who had 16 points for the visitors. But Canton (20-4) didn’t crumble. 

The Warriors settled into their man-to-man defense and slowed down Kolbe. Offensively, Canton began moving the ball better and the Warriors built a seven-point lead, 55-48, with about three minutes remaining. Kolbe rallied and cut the lead to two with 1:30 remaining but a key basket from Jacquie Grabowski (8 points) kept Canton in front. 

“This definitely had the feel of a semifinal game as both teams left everything on the floor,” Canton coach Brian Medieros said. 

Canton was led by junior Maggie Treacy with a game-high 22 points, including a three-point field goal. Emily Briggs added 12 points while Gabby Rose had 14. Canton was 19-of-27 from the free throw line. Kolbe was just 6-of-13 from the charity stripe. 

Canton hosts No. 8 Old Lyme in the quarterfinals on Monday night at Canton beginning at 7 p.m. If the Warriors win, they would move onto the semifinals where they will face either No. 4 Bolton or No. 5 Notre Dame-Fairfield on Friday at a neutral site. Notre Dame-Fairfield is also a member of the SWC. 

Canton 62, Kolbe Cathedral 55
At Canton
Canton (62): Katie Walker 2-0-4, Emily Briggs 3 6-8 12, Jacquie Grabowski 3 2-4 8, Maggie Treacy 6 9-12 22, Gabby Rose 6 2-3 14, Emma Charron 0-0-0, Abbe Skinner 1-0-2, Leah Eschenbrenner 0-0-0, Carly Atkinson 0-0-0, Belle Magna 0-0-0. Totals 21 19-27 62
Kolbe (55): Trinity Bravo 5 1-2 11, Leah Hodges 6 1-3 16, Nia Fogle 7 2-4 18, Chiniki Fils 3 2-4 8, Alyssa Mesoros 1-0-2, Tiana Moraes 0-0-0, Thaitana Joseph 0-0-0. Totals 22 6-13 55
Kolbe (11-12)     17  14  13  11  — 55
Canton (20-4)    16  15  18  13 – 62
Three-point goals: Hodges (K) 3, Fogle (K) 2, Treacy (C) 

Avon 76, Pomperaug 47
AVON, March 6 – Avon allowed just 14 points in the second half as the Falcons rolled to a 76-47 win over No. 9 Pomperaug in a Class L tournament second round contest Friday night. Abby Laszewski had a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead Avon (21-4) while Michaela Marcus poured in 23 points. Olivia Welter added 12 for the winners.

Avon will now play top-seeded Farmington (25-0) on Monday night in Farmington at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The Indians beat Avon earlier this year – without Laszewski – by a score of 69-47 in January.