Last year, two freshmen led the Prince Tech girls basketball team to a 15-5 regular season.
This season, the freshmen are now a year older and more experienced. Prince Tech lost its first game but has won 10 straight since.
Kailyn Grate, the point guard, is averaging 21 points per game and Mireidys Cruz-DeJesus, the shooting guard, is averaging 15.
“They’re starting to understand the high school game a little more,” Prince Tech coach Polly Innerarity said. “As freshmen, you try to tell them about high school basketball, but they need to experience it for themselves. They are also starting to play better together.”
Junior Xophia Wilson didn’t score a lot last year and now she’s having a big impact on games: Wilson had a triple-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks) in a 50-15 win over Capital Prep on Jan. 15.
“Her improvement from last year is tremendous,” Innerarity said, “She wasn’t really a scorer last year and now she’s the third-leading scorer. She’s starting to rebound more. Her defense has really improved.”
Prince Tech lost its first game on Dec. 12 to International/Aerospace/Bloomfield 45-28 but hasn’t dropped a game since. Innerarity said the team has had a spate of injuries and only has 10 players between varsity and JV.
The Falcons have a few tests this week; they face Weaver (9-2) Tuesday and Cheney Tech, whom they beat by a point on Jan. 6, on Friday.
“I’m excited,” Innerarity said. “I told the team, ‘This is the test we need.’”
Bowens is back
Bristol Central senior guard Kamaria Bowens returned to play at the Hoophall Invitational in Springfield after missing the first 10 games due to a torn posterior cruciate ligament suffered in an early fall league game, coach Steve Gaudet said.
Bristol Central senior Kamaria Bowens is back after missing the first part of the season due to an injury. (Photo by Lori Riley)
Bowens, who averaged 18 points, six rebounds and six assists last season, is a key player for the Rams (10-3). She started her first game Friday against Manchester and had 14 points.
“It’s nice to have her back,” Gaudet said.
Top performances
Urielle Abrokwa, East Catholic: Abrokwa had 16 points in a 57-38 win over Conard Tuesday.
Amelia Faienza, New Britain: Faienza had 26 points, nine rebounds and four steals in a 56-52 win over Ledyard Monday and 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 67-62 win over Tolland Friday.
Peyton Kelleher, Cromwell: Kelleher shot 9 for 18 from the field and had 21 points in a 60-28 win over Old Saybrook Friday.
Sybil Neary, Old Lyme: Neary had a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in a 48-30 loss to North Branford Tuesday and 16 rebounds in a 47-22 loss to Haddam-Killingworth Friday.
Sadie Passante, Morgan: Passante scored her 1,000th career point and had 36 points, six steals and four assists in a 68-18 win over Coginchaug Friday.
Mia Pisciotti, Hale Ray: Pisciotti scored 26 points in a 41-24 victory over Comp Sci Friday.
Hazel Qua, Suffield: Qua scored 20 points in a 39-22 win over East Windsor Thursday.
Tae Ramey, Weaver: Ramey had 30 points and 17 rebounds, along with six steals, in Weaver’s 56-50 win over Somers Thursday.
Nicole Riemer, Bristol Central: Riemer, a senior forward/center, scored 28 points and had 18 rebounds in a win over Manchester to break the school’s girls basketball rebounding record (1,032) set by Stacey Porrini Clingan, Donovan Clingan’s mother, in 1993. Riemer is also the leading girls basketball scorer at the school (1,276 points).
Mia Santini, Tolland: Santini scored 29 points in a 67-62 loss to New Britain Friday.
Juliana Spenser, Valley Regional: Spenser scored 26 points in a 45-36 win over Old Saybrook Tuesday.
Games to Watch
Mercy (10-2) at Hand (10-3), Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Mercy beat Hand by two points back on Dec. 19, so this SCC game should be another good one.
Lewis Mills (10-2) at Bristol Central (10-3), Tuesday, 6 p.m.: Lewis Mills handed the Rams one of their three losses and senior guard Kamaria Bowens is back for Bristol Central after missing the first part of the season with an injury.
Weaver (9-2) at Prince Tech (10-1), Tuesday, 5 p.m.: Prince Tech has won 10 straight but will face a difficult test against Weaver.
Suffield (10-2) at Ellington (11-3), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Ellington beat Suffield 47-46 on Jan. 7.
