UNCASVILLE – The Southington girls basketball team made its first trip to the state championship since 1993 on Sunday night.
It turned out to be a rough night for Southington. Despite taking an early lead in the Class LL final, the Knights lost to Sacred Heart 57-47 at Mohegan Sun.
“The kids played tough,” Southington coach Howie Hewitt said. “What are you going to do?
“We came out good, the defense was good. We just didn’t put the ball in the basket like we usually do.”
Senior Lily Cooper broke the school’s all-time scoring record, boys and girls, of 1,333 points set by Val DePaolo in 1979. Cooper broke the record in the first half and finished her career with 1,344 points. Cooper finished with 14 points and had six rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Southington (26-2).
“She’s given every ounce physically and mentally to make herself better and to make us better,” Hewitt said. “I don’t know how much more you can ask of a player than we got from Lily Cooper.”
Southington, which won the CCC tournament championship, had previously only lost once this season, to Conard. Fourth-seeded Sacred Heart (25-3) lost in the Class LL championship game last year to Hamden, 46-40 and last won a title in 2022 in Class MM.
Emily Mennillo led Sacred Heart with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Madelyn Burke had 11 points. Hannah Blanchard had 10 points and 12 rebounds for Southington.
The Blue Knights got off to a good start and led 17-10 after one quarter. When Gianna Matthews hit a jumper early in the second quarter, Southington led 21-11. But Sacred Heart chipped away at the lead and Southington started to turn over the ball and by halftime, the Knights’ lead was cut down to 26-23. Sacred Heart took the lead on a Molly Gunning 3-pointer, 28-26. Southington tied it with a Blanchard basket and Sacred Heart went ahead after that and never trailed.
Sacred Heart made 25 of 31 free throws.
“We were making shots and we stopped making shots,” Hewitt said.
Class LL championship
Sacred Heart 57, Southington 47
Sacred Heart 10 13 15 19 – 57
Southington 17 9 6 15 – 47
Sacred Heart: Molly Gunning 2 0 4, Lyla D’Errico 1 5 7, Madelyn Burke 3 5 11, JJ Kirck 0 0 0, Emily Mennino 3 10 16, Alexis Powell 4 0 8, Mia Harmon 2 5 9. Totals: 15 25 57.
Southington: Grace Russo 0 0 0, Isabella Leggett 2 0 4, Hannah Blanchard 5 0 10, Katie Doherty 1 0 3, Lily Cooper 4 5 14, Nerea Maule 3 0 6, Ariana Quick 2 2 8, McKenna Crist 0 0 0, Gianna Matthews, 1 0 2, Alexa Poutouves 0 0 0, Madison Rizzuto 0 0 0. Totals: 18 7 47.
Records: Sacred Heart, 25-3; Southington, 26-2.