Senior forward Mia Poturnicki scored 18 points on her 18th birthday and Coginchaug celebrated its seventh straight win to open the season, 55-25 over host Hale-Ray on Tuesday.
“We played very well in the first half and Mia was great,” Blue Devils coach Chris Watson said. “She’s always putting herself in the right spot.”
Behind a senior-laden lineup featuring Poturnicki, Chloe Shafir, Katie Farr, Allison Sambor, Allison Strang and Serena Fournier, Coginchaug has won five road games during its 7-0 run and has allowed opponents to eclipse 40 points just twice. The offense has balance that is fueled by Poturnicki, Shafir and Farr.
Shafir scored 16 points Tuesday and Farr contributed 10. Nikki Sikorski led Hale-Ray with 12 points.
“Being a senior-heavy team that has played so much together for so long, there’s a natural chemistry to what we do,” said Watson. “They all played all varsity last season as well, so things got back to normal very easily.
“We’ve been really well balanced so far, which I’m happy about. We also know the toughest part of our schedule is ahead of us.”
The Blue Devils’ net two games also will play out on the road against Old Lyme and Valley Regional. Coginchaug returns home Jan. 12 against Morgan and also hosts defending Shoreline Conference champion East Hampton on Jan. 17. Another challenging opponent — Cromwell — looms on Jan. 27 at home.
“We aren’t taking things for granted,” Watson said. “The wins are great but we still have to keep getting better when we hit the middle of the schedule.”
COGINCHAUG (7-0)
Sophie Farr 3 0-0 6, Serena Fournier 2 0-0 4, Katie Farr 4 2-2 10, Sophie Kulas 0 1-2 1, Mia Poturnicki 7 4-4 18, Chloe Shafir 7 0-3 16. Totals: 23 7-13 55.
HALE-RAY (2-2)
Mia Piscotti 3 0-0 7, Colleen Hagerty 1 0-0 2, Nikki Sikorski 4 4-8 12, Kenzie Purdell 0 4-4 4, Jenna Hochdorfer 0 0-1 0. Totals: 8 8-13 25.
Score by quarters
Coginchaug..18 13 15 9–55
Hale-Ray……..4 3 12 6–25
3-pointers: Coginchaug–Shafir 2; Hale-Ray–Piscotti 1.
Elsewhere around the county on Tuesday:
Cromwell 38, East Hampton 29
Adela Cecunjanin had 11 points and 13 rebounds as Cromwell sent East Hampton to its first defeat in six games. Liana Salamone led the Bellringers with 12 point and Delaney Russell pulled down 8 rebounds.
CROMWELL (4-2)
Grace Mikan 0 0-0 0, Cameryn Hickey 2 0-2 5, Jessica Grodzicki 2 5-6 9, Kayla Nappi 0 1-2 1, Brynn Kovacs 1 2-4 5, Nevaeh Clark 1 5-6 7, Adela Cecunjanin 5 0-0 11. Totals: 11 13-20 38.
EAST HAMPTON (5-1)
Olivia DeMartino 4 0-0 9, Liana Salamone 4 4-8 12, Delaney Russell 2 0-2 4, Jackie Russell 0 2-2 2, Jordan Murphy 1 0-0 2, Katie Ireland 0 0-0 0, Amber Murphy 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 6-12 29.
Score by quarters
Cromwell……….11 9 7 11–38
East Hampton..10 8 5 6–29
Old Saybrook 55, Old Lyme 35
Nora Kulmann had 5 3-point baskets and led the Rams with 17 points. Sybil Neary had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats.
OLD SAYBROOK (6-1)
Breleigh Cooke 3 1-2 7, Alex Ling 2 0-0 4, Ellie Pennington 2 2-2 6, Nora Kulmann 6 0-0 17, Sanai Baker 0 0-0 0, Kylie Lake 6 1-4 13, Samantha Hanover 2 0-0 4, Lauren Kapp 1 0-0 2, Madelyz Zhuno 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 4-8 55.
OLD LYME (1-5)
Ava Roth 3 2-6 9, Sybil Neary 7 6-9 20, Kanon Oharu 1 2-2 4, Abby O’Brien 1 0-0 2, Abby Griffith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 10-17 35.
3-pointers: Old Saybrook–Kulmann 5; Old Lyme–Roth 1.
Mercy 46, Career Magnet 10
MERCY (5-0)
Avery Kohs 3 0-0 6, Sophie Hedge 5 0-0 11, Ava Giansiracusa 2 0-0 4, Mercedes Artaiz 1 0-0 2, Melina Ford 3 0-0 6, Maddie Benigni 2 0-0 5, Jasmine Mendez 1 2-2 4, Caelyn McMahon-Egan 0 2-2 2, Rose Szeghy 2 1-2 7, Abi Weidman 0 0-2 0. Totals: 19 5-6 46.
CAREER (0-5)
Chelsea Winley 0 1-4 1, Jaeli Ruiz 1 0-0 3, Dayorna Wilkins 2 0-0 4, Sophia Crumpter 1 0-0 2, Jamyi Hernandez-Vaga 0 0-0 0. Totals: 4 1-4 10.
Score by quarters
Mercy….11 14 13 8–46
Career…..0 0 6 4–10
3-pointers: Mercy–Hedge 1, Benigni 1, Szeghy 2; Career-Ruiz 1.
Middletown 54, Platt 27
PLATT (3-4)
Zenaida Bon 1 0 2; Zaria Callaway 1 1 3; Na’Shyia Preston 1 0 2; Antwanette Tann 9 2 20. Totals: 12-3-27.
MIDDLETOWN (5-2)
Shalyn Smith 7 0 17; Natalia Washington 1 0 3; Ava Studinski 1 0 2; Jada Bryant 1 2 4; Jahne Carrenard 3 0 6; Allaysia Durant 1 0 2; Sophia Abanador 1 0 3; Tessa Porch 5 0 11; Gabrielle Butler 2 0 4; Tajahnee Brock 0 0 0; Cadence Manning 1 0 2. Totals: 23 2 54.
Score by quarters
Platt…………..2 5 12 8–27
Middletown..19 8 18 9–54
3-pointers: Middletown–Smith 3, Washington 1, Porch 1, Abanador 1.
North Branford 50, Morgan 44
NORTH BRANFORD (2-4)
Callie Holzer 8 4-9 21, Nicole Timario 0 4-4 4, Tessa Juniver 1 0-0 2, Keana Criscuolo 6 2-5 15, Natalia Lucibello 2 0-0 4, Emma Preiss 1 0-0 2, Skylar Gage 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 10-18 50.
MORGAN (2-4)
Maeve Madura 1 0-3 2, Caeley Ayer 5 2-2 15, Ava Johnson 3 0-0 8, Katie Martin 7 2-2 16, Sofie Passante 0 1-2 1, Eva O’Sullivan 2 0-0 4. Totals: 18 5-9 44.
Score by quarters
North Branford…11 8 16 15–50
Morgan…………..16 12 3 13–44
3-pointers: North Branford–Holzer 1, Criscuolo 1; Morgan–Ayer 3.
Of note: Morgan’s Martin also had 9 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.
Westbrook 52, Portland 31
PORTLAND (0-5)
Jamie Lasky 6 5 17, Morganne Pineda 3 1 8, Izzy McClelland 2 0 4, Rachel Mailhot 0 1 1, McKayla Wilk 0 1 1. Totals: 11 8 31.
WESTBROOK (3-3)
Adriana Stranieri 7 2 18, Leticia Pires 4 2 10, Allison Brajczewski 4 3 12, Kayla Prisley 2 3 7, Olivia Palumbo 1 1 3, Adriana Spash 1 0 2, Natalie Palumbo 0 0 0, Stella Blair 0 0 0, Natalia Fineza 0 0 0. Totals: 19 11 52.
Score by quarters
Portland……9 3 7 12–31
Westbrook..14 16 8 14–52
3-pointers: Portland–Pineda 1; Westbrook–Stranieri 2, Brajczewski 1.
Valley Regional 42, Granby 31
VALLEY REGIONAL (4-2)
Ella Smith 0 0-0 0, Abby Bradbury 1 2-4 4, Sienna Schaller 1 0-0 2, Ella Martinez 0 0-0 0, Lily Grow 8 3-4 19, Regan Grow 3 3-5 9, Sharmel Rivera 0 0-0 0, Olivia Cunningham 3 2-2 8, Elizabeth Allen 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 10-15 42.
GRANBY (5-1)
Femke Jansen 3 4-4 10, Jalisa Matthews 0 0 0, Katherine O’Neill 0 0 0, Mackenzie Garceau 3 0 6, Zoe Kelly 1 0 2, Mia Cruden 0 0 0, Alayla Bolduc 3 1-1 7, Ava Gallineli 0 0 0, Divine Collins 0 0 0, Madeleine Bennett 0 0 0, Alyssa Bordonaro 2 2-1 6. Totals: 12 7-6 31.
Score by quarters
Valley….9 12 13 8–42
Granby..9 6 8 8–31
3-pointers: None.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Portland 77, Westbrook 49
WESTBROOK (1-6)
Brandon Naccarato 7 5-9 19, Ryan Engels 3 3-4 11, Vin Naccarato 1 0-0 2, Elliott Koplas 1 0-0 3, Trevor Jones 1 0-0 2, Muhammad Zaheer 2 0-0 5, Jacob Perreault 1 0-0 2, Michael Sharpe 1 0-0 2, Tyler Casula 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 8-13 49.
PORTLAND (4-2)
Joe Rusczyk 8 3-3 22, Harrison Collins 6 0-0 13, Ryan Kerr 3 0-0 8, Tyler Wydo 3 0-0 9, Ben Fecteau 2 0-0 5, Nick Oliva 2 0-0 4, Austin Vess 3 0-0 7, Aidan Peterson 3 0-0 9. Totals: 30 3-3 77.
Score by quarters
Westbrook..4 13 14 18–49
Portland…..26 21 18 12–77
3-pointers: Westbrook–Engels 2, Zaheer 1, Casula 1, Koplas 1; Portland–Rusczyk 3, Peterson 3, Wydo 3, Kerr 2, Collins 1, Fecteau 1, Vess 1.
Cromwell 70, East Hampton 40
EAST HAMPTON (3-2)
Austin Cuthbertson 2 2-2 6, Brady Lynch 2 5-8 9, Jadin Sawyer 4 0-0 9, Nate Ireland 3 2-4 8, Jake Karrenberg 1 1-2 3, Nick Borrelli 1 2-3 4, Gabe McMillian 0 1-1 1. Totals: 13 13-20 40.
CROMWELL (5-0)
Emeka Yearwood 1 0-0 2, Victor Payne 10 4-4 24, Tyler Danielle 5 2-3 12, Jack Corona 1 0-0 3, Logan Mure 2 0-0 5, Jake Salafia 4 0-0 9, Jay Vaughan 1 0-0 2, Keanu Gomez 3 0-0 6, Jovan Merrero 1 0-0 2, Luke Gagnon 2 0-0 5. Totals: 30 6-7 70.
Score by quarters
EHampton..10 10 12 8–40
Cromwell….16 21 25 8–70
3-pointers: Cromwell–Mure 1, Salafia 1, Gagnon 1, Corona 1; East Hampton–Sawyer 1.
Valley Regional 49, Haddam-Killingworth 42
H-K (1-3)
Joe Giaconne 1 0 2, Ryan Erskine 4 0 11, Andrew Crayton 2 0 5, Blake Kamoan 3 1 7, Declan Moriarty 2 0 5, Jamien Evans 3 2 9, Cody Robinson 1 0 3. Totals: 16 3 42.
VALLEY REGIONAL (2-3)
Connor Quinn 2 0 6, Di’Angelo Jean-Pierre 1 1 3, Brayden Shea 2 2 6, Andrew Yermenson 4 5 16, Kevin King 2 2 6, Michael Kollmer 0 0 0, Sam Hutchinson 4 4 12. Totals: 15 14 49.
Score by quarters
H-K……2 7 16 17–42
Valley…9 8 13 19–49
3-pointers: HK–Erskine 3, Crayton 1, Moriarty 1, Evans 1, Robinson 1; Valley–Yermenson 3, Quinn 2.
Of note: Hutchinson had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds … Jean-Pierre had 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals … Shea had 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals … Kamoen led H-K with 9 rebounds.
Xavier 65, Cheshire 52
XAVIER (5-1)
Matt Bellavance 1 2-2 4; Anthony Parker 13 5-6 32; Colby Ciampi 4 2-2 12, Peter O’Brien 1 2-2 4; Aidan Driscoll 1 2-2 5; Bobby Zdrojeski 3 2-3 8. Totals: 23 15-17 65.
CHESHIRE (2-3)
Drew Vagts 2 0-1 4, Chris O’Neil 2 0-0 4; Jack Markarian 8 0-1 19; Jackson Enders 4 0-0 8; Bennett Carerar 2 6-6 10; Adrian Ali 1 0-0 3; Ryan Grave 1 0-0 2; Max Bernstein 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 6-8 52.
Score by quarters
Xavier…..19 12 13 21–65
Cheshire…9 15 18 10–52
3-pointers: Xavier–Ciampi 2, Parker 1, Driscoll 1; Cheshire–Markarian 3, Ali 1.
Middletown 74, Platt 68
MIDDLETOWN (4-2)
Tijon Johnson 2 4 9, Tyrese Allick 1 0 2, Isaiah Rodgers 3 0 9, Nasir Cade-McDaniel 3 4 11, Quadir Murphy 5 1 11, Marshall Butler 3 0 7, Justice Freeman 4 2 10, Brandon Torres 3 8 14. Totals: 23 19 74.
Score by quarters
Middletown….9 19 21 25–74
Platt…………..13 22 14 19–68
3-pointers: Middletown–Rodgers 3, Johnson 1, Butler 1, Cade-McDaniel 1
Morgan 57, North Branford 49
MORGAN (3-3)
Matt Reed 6 2-7 15, Kolby Clifton 1 2-2 4, Ryan Donadio 1 2-2 4, Jack Nye 2 0-0 4, Eddie Dwake 9 6-9 24, Mason Krott 1 0-0 3, Robbie Estabrook 1 0-0 3. Totals: 21 12-20 57.
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NORTH BRANFORD (3-4)
Drew Girardi 2 0-0 4, Jack Meehan 4 1-6 9, Jaiden Sorrell 2 0-1 4, John Onofrio 2 0-0 5, Justin Chopas 0 0-0 0, Ben Stegina 3 1-2 7, Jordan DeJesus 5 4-7 15, Jake Johns 1 3-3 5. Totals: 19 9-19 49.
Score by quarters
Morgan……13 13 16 15–57
NBranford..12 9 18 10–49
3-pointers: Morgan–Reed 1, Krott 1, Estabrook 1; North Branford–Onofrio 1, DeJesus 1.