WOODSTOCK – E.O. Smith came out on fire in the second half in the championship game of the Centaurs Holiday Classic girls basketball tournament.
E.O. Smith (6-1) led by 10, 33-23, going into the locker room.
It quickly extended that lead by scoring the first 11 points of the third quarter to take home its first Centaur championship, beating host school Woodstock Academy 55-39.
Karleigh Dale, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, scored four of her 19 points to open the second half.
Cammi Villanueva and Taylor Verboven added baskets and Megan Solensky ended the run with a 3-pointer.
“Once they got the lead, they got into their motion offense. They don’t force shots, they take their time, which put more pressure on us to try to come back. In high school sports, that makes you fret and scramble and that only makes it worse,” Woodstock Academy coach Will Fleeton said.
Jamie Woods, who was named to the All-Tournament team, was the only player in double figures for the Centaurs (4-2) with 14.
Ciri Miller was also named to the All-Academic tournament team for the Centaurs.
Windsor 52
Ledyard 38
WOODSTOCK – Sarah Serbascewicz scored 16 points and was named to the Centaur Holiday Classic girls basketball tournament All-Tournament and All-Academic team.
The Colonels (3-3) led by seven at the half, but saw Windsor take the lead for good, 30-28, on a 3-pointer by Tanae Arnold with 2:59 left in the third quarter.
Tajeah Winston added nine for the Colonels.
Windham 47
Wheeler 37
WILLIMANTIC - The Windham girls’ basketball team got back to winning on Friday by beating Wheeler at home.
Senior Neisha Rodriguez led the Whippets (2-3) to victory with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Ainsley Dupuis added eight points. The Lions (2-4) got 12 points from senior Emma Morgan.
Boys’ Basketball
Windham Tech 75
Wolcott Tech 35
WINDHAM - The Windham Tech boys’ basketball team cruised to victory over Wolcott Tech on Friday.
Junior Cole Paquin led the Mighty Tigers (3-3) to victory with 19 points, including five threes, while freshman Logan Grosse added eight points. Nick Barney put up 10 points for the Wildcats (0-3).
Prout (RI) 80
Wheeler 25
NORTH STONINGTON - The Wheeler boys’ basketball team suffered its fifth straight loss on Friday, falling to Prout (RI).
The Lions (1-5) got six points each from senior Ryan Condon and sophomore Clayton Carini.
THURSDAY
Boys’ Basketball
NFA 60
Hall 41
NORWICH - The Norwich Free Academy boys’ basketball team scored another victory on Thursday over Hall.
Senior Bret Wood led the Wildcats (2-0) with 20 points, while fellow senior Aidan Miller put up 17. The Warriors (0-4) got 12 points from junior Daidrien Ramos.
Waterford 84
Ledyard 64
MIDDLETOWN - The Waterford boys’ basketball team won again at the Kohs Holiday Tournament at Xavier High School on Thursday, defeating Ledyard.
Senior Mikey Buscetto put in a performance for the ages, scoring 48 points, including 12 three-pointers, to lead the Lancers (5-0) to victory. Senior Omar Rahman added 14 points.
The Colonels (2-1) got 12 points each from senior Devin Rickerson and junior Ken Turner.
Girls’ Basketball
East Lyme 54
Shelton 26
SHELTON - The East Lyme girls’ basketball team got its fourth straight win, beating Shelton on Thursday.
Junior Megan Bauman led the Vikings (5-2) with 18 points, while sophomore Sophie Dubreuil tacked on 15. Senior Kayla Resto, sophomore Leya Vohra and junior Grace Boles each managed five points for the Gaels (3-4).