GLASTONBURY – The Conard-Glastonbury girls basketball game was close Monday night but when Glastonbury senior guard Maddy Handrahan came down the court and saw her younger sister in the corner, she didn’t hesitate and passed her the ball.
Ryley, a sophomore, knocked down the 3-pointer to give Glastonbury the lead. She had hit some free throws earlier, but this was Ryley’s first varsity basket.
The next time down the court, Maddy once again found Ryley on a fast break. Ryley hit the shot, was fouled and made the free throw.
Conard never got that close again and Glastonbury, fueled by Maddy Handrahan’s 25 points (and eight from her sister), won a CCC interdivisional game, 49-42, on opening night for the Guardians.
“What really fueled us is this has been a conference rivalry since I’ve been here,” Maddy said. “It’s our first game, let’s come out with a bang. We’re an underrated team. I love that.”
The two teams split in the regular season last year, but Conard beat Glastonbury in the CCC quarterfinals.
Maddy, a three-year starter, is 40 points shy of 1,000 career points. She will play at Assumption University next season.
“I enjoy looking up to her,” Ryley said. “She’s such a big role model. I learn a lot from her.
“I hope to support her and help her since this is her senior year and we want to accomplish a lot.”
In the waning moments of the game, Conard’s Emily Knowles (19 points) hit a 3-pointer to cut Glastonbury’s lead to five, 47-42. With 20 seconds left, Conard had the ball, but Maddy stole the ball, then hit two free throws to seal the win. She had seven steals and five assists Monday.
“She’s a legit basketball player,” Conard coach Laurie Cersosimo said. “I’ve coached against her since she was a freshman – and with the growth she’s had every single year, she is difficult to stop. Her game IQ, her athleticism – she’s just an excellent player.”
Handrahan also plays soccer; the Guardians lost to eventual Class LL champion Mercy 1-0 in the second round of the state tournament. Then she came right to basketball.
“I love them both so much,” she said. “I decided freshman/sophomore year, I had a bigger passion for basketball.”
Handrahan scored all 10 of Glastonbury’s points in the first quarter, opening and closing the quarter with a 3-pointer, and the Guardians led Conard 10-5.
She had another 3 in the second and Conard crept back into the game. Glastonbury led 20-17 at halftime and Conard took its first lead, 22-20 on a 3-pointer by Nicole Gorman. Handrahan scored the next six points for Glastonbury. Ryley’s 3 broke a 30-30 tie with 51 seconds left and her next shot and free throw gave Glastonbury a 38-33 lead to close the quarter.
“Maddy’s a great kid to coach, she’s a once in a lifetime type player,” Glastonbury coach Chris Vozzolo said. “She does everything the right way. She’s a gamer. She made some big plays. She’s got a lot of different ways she can beat you.
“Ryley, amongst some other kids, are going to do a good job playing some roles for us and playing around Maddy. As the season progresses, I think they’ll find their comfort zone and we’ll gel as a team.
“But Maddy was Maddy tonight.”
Glastonbury 49, Conard 42
Conard 5 12 16 9 -0 42
Glastonbury 10 10 16 13 – 49
Conard: Emily Knowles 6 4 19, Ryelle Gomes 0 3 3, Courtney McPhee 3 1 8, Nicole Gorman 2 1 7, Caroline Cersosimo 1 0 3, Brooklyn Knowles 1 0 2. Totals: 13 9 42.
Glastonbury: Maddy Handrahan 9 4 25, Cora Cwiertniewicz 0 5 5, Maja Szopic 4 0 9, Audrey Grecco 1 0 2, Ryley Handrahan 2 3 8. Totals: 16 12 49.
Records: Conard, 1-1; Glastonbury, 1-0.