Words and photos by Andy Hutchison
WESTPORT–Freya Harvey scored 18 points, including a three-pointer that broke a late tie, in the Wreckers’ defeat of South Windsor; the girls advanced a round and will play Bristol Central in the semis.
After Harvey’s trey, the Wreckers defense shut down South Windsor; No. 3 Staples finished on a 7-0 run for a 42-35 victory in Friday’s Division II State Tournament quarterfinals.
South Windsor scored eight 3-pointers–the last one deadlocking the score at 35 with two and a half minutes left to play. Harvey answered with a 3 of her own, one of six from downtown by Staples, giving the Wreckers the lead for good with 1:39 left. Chloe Smith and Addie Talbott hit key free throws to seal things in the waning seconds.
“That’s one of the best shooting teams all around that we’ve seen all season,” Staples Coach Tommy Sparks said of the Wreckers’ counterparts.
But the Wreckers impressed their coach even more, withstanding a tough foe that stayed close all game and made things a bit dicey in final minutes.
“The mental toughness that these girls have shown is amazing,” Sparks said.
Before the scoring run to end the game, the Wreckers had some clutch baskets. Staples led 29-25 going to the fourth. South Windsor closed to within two when Emma Asiel rattled home a 3-pointer. Smith canned another 3 for a 35-29 lead before South Windsor’s back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc tied things.
Harvey’s 18 points included four 3-pointers; Smith scored nine points. Harvey recorded four rebounds, four steals and two assists, Talbott had five rebounds five steals and two assists, Riley Caney logged nine rebounds and two blocks. Smith had five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Marley Belzer blocked two shots.
Sparks said keys to the win included limiting South Windsor to single shot trips down the court, boxing out the South Windsor offense and getting rebounds. The Wreckers’ aggressive offense got the South Windsor defense to collapse, opening up good looks at the hoop.
In the semis, the Wreckers will take on Bristol Central at neutral site Bethel on Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m.
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