The Cromwell girls basketball team has struggled on the defensive end this season at times. But when the situation called for a series of stops against Valley Regional, the Panthers rose to the challenge.
Cromwell held Valley to just five points in the fourth quarter, while the offense scored 19 — 9 by Jessica Grodzicki — to come away with a 53-44 Shoreline Conference win at Jake Salafia Gymnasium.
“We picked up the defensive pressure and were able to get stops, and down the stretch we were able to make free throws,” Cromwell coach Kelly Maher said.
The Panthers, who made 22 of 28 from the line, were led by Adela Cecunjanin’s 16 points and 10 rebounds. Grodzicki finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while Cameryn Hickey had 10 points. Nevaeh Clark played only 13 minutes because of foul trouble and finished with 2 points.
Abby Bradbury and Lily Grow led Valley with 11 points apiece. Bradbury also had 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
VALLEY REGIONAL (16-3)
Ava Cunningham 2 0 5, Abby Bradbury 4 2 11, Bitzy Klomp 4 0 8, Liz Allen 2 2 7, Olivia Cunningham 0 2 2, Siena Schaller 0 0 0, Lily Grow 5 1 11, Regan Grow 0 0 0, Rubee Cecchini 0 0 0. Totals: 17 7 44.
CROMWELL (15-4)
Jessica Grodzicki 3 4 11, Nevaeh Clark 0 2 2, Grace Mikan 1 0 3, Adela Cecunjanin 4 7 16, Abigail Burgess 0 0 0, Hope Greaves 0 0 0, Cameryn Hickey 2 6 10, Brynn Kovacs 0 0 0, Kayla Nappi 4 3 11, Leah Pepe 0 0 0, Annika Peters 0 0 0, Sophia Santangelo 0 0 0. Totals: 14 22-28 53.
Score By Quarters
Valley……..14 13 12 5–44
Cromwell..10 12 12 19–53
3-pointers: Valley–Bradbury 1, A. Cunningham 1, Allen 1; Cromwell–Grodzicki 1, Mikan 1, Cecunjanin 1.
Up next: Valley at Morgan, Wednesday, 6; Cromwell vs. Westbrook, Wednesday, 6.
In other girls basketball games Tuesday:
Haddam-Killingworth 39, Morgan 37 (OT)
Ana Garcia hit the winning shot in overtime to give H-K the upset in Clinton. Kaleigh Bodak had a double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds), Cheyenne LaTouche had 12 rebounds, Garcia grabbed 8 boards and Julia Favalora contributed 4 assists and 2 steals to go with her 13 points. Katie Martin had 11 rebounds for the Huskies and Victoria O’Neill pulled down 7.
H-K (5-14)
Kaleigh Bodak 7 0-2 14, Julia Favalora 4 4-6 13, Audra Yazmer 0 0-2 0, Ella Commerford 1 0-0 2, Ana Garcia 3 2-2 8, Cheyenne LaTouche 0 2-2 2, Ella Geissler 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 8-14 39.
MORGAN (9-10)
Caeley Ayer 4 1-2 9, Ava Johnson 3 4-4 11, Katie Martin 3 2-4 8, Sofie Passante 1 0-2 2, Victoria O’Neill 3 0-0 6, Ava Zirlis 0 1-4 1, Eva O’Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8-16 37.
Score By Quarters
Haddam-Kill…10 9 9 8 3–39
Morgan………..8 7 9 12 1–37
3-pointers: H-K–Favalora 1; Morgan–Johnson 1.
Up next: H-K vs. Avon, Wednesday, 5:30; Morgan vs. Valley Regional, Wednesday, 6.
Old Lyme 47, Old Saybrook 22
OLD SAYBROOK (3-16)
B. Cooke 3 1 9, Hagelston 0 0 0, Feratovic 0 0 0, Johnson 2 1 6, M. Cooke 1 2 4, Baker 0 1 1, Lake 1 0 2. Totals: 7 5 22.
OLD LYME (12-7)
Ava Roth 3 0 7, Kate Walsh 6 0 15, Melanie Warren 1 2 4, Kanon Oharu 0 1 1, Ali Kyle 2 0 4, Alexis Fenton 1 0 3, Megan Loflin 5 3 13. Totals: 18 6 47.
Score By Quarters
Old Saybrook….2 4 6 10–22
Old Lyme………13 11 12 11–47
3-pointers: Old Saybrook–B. Cooke 2, Johnson 1; Old Lyme–Walsh 3, Roth 1, Fenton 1.
Of note: Loflin led the Wildcats with 9 rebounds and Roth had a team-high 4 steals.
Up next: Old Lyme at Portland, Thursday, 5; Old Saybrook at Coginchaug, Wednesday, 7.
Portland 50, Hale-Ray 44
PORTLAND (5-11)
Liz McClelland 4 0 11, Hannah Brunk 3 0 8, Kendra Schoeps 2 0 5, Pineda 3 0 7, M Lasky 7 0 15, Bell 1 0 2. J Lasky 1 0 2. Totals: 21 0 50.
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HALE-RAY (0-19)
Kenzie Purdell 4 2 11, Kayla Bartolotta 1 0 2, Jennafaye Haentjens 0 0 0, Gabby Aguilera 0 0 0, Brooke Praskievicz 14 0 28, Julie Anderson 1 1 3. Totals: 20 3 44.
Score By Quarters
Portland….8 8 13 21–50
Hale-Ray..7 15 9 13–44
3-pointers: Portland–McClelland 3, Brunk 2, Schoeps 1, Pineda 1, M. Lasky 1; Hale-Ray–Purdell 1.
Up next: Portland vs. Hale-Ray, Wednesday, 7.