Top-seeded Coventry downs No. 2 Suffield to defend its NCCC girls basketball championship

WINDSOR LOCKS – There was a different vibe when the returning players on the Coventry girls basketball took the court. As the reigning NCCC champions, the Patriots were now the team others were looking to dethrone.

After a perfect run through NCCC play during the regular season, the top-seeded Patriots handled the pressure and a Suffield team on a 17-game winning streak to repeat as conference champions.

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A 9-1 run late in the first half and another burst when No. 2 Suffield was threatening to make a game of it propelled Coventry to a 64-46 victory in the tournament final Monday night.

“It was really amazing, especially since we put in so much work all season,” said NCCC tournament MVP Danielle Wheeler, who had 27 points. “We kind of had a target on our back for the whole season because we won it last year. A lot of teams were out to get us. All we had to do was put in a lot of hard work, and it feels really good knowing that is paid off.”

Coventry, the No. 10 team in the GameTimeCT poll, never trailed in the game, and went up by double digits when Hailey Mayo’s layup put the Patriots ahead by 11 late in the first half.

Suffield (20-3) pulled within six points in the early stages of the third quarter, as Reese Jeamel had a three-point play followed by a steal and layup by Wheeler. But the Wildcats got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

“We didn’t play our best basketball tonight. We didn’t play good basketball, we played mediocre basketball,” Suffield coach Jason Qua said. “Coventry is a really good team and if you want to play a really good team, you are going to have to play your best basketball or at least good basketball.”

Jeamel had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots, Jianna Foran also had 13 points and Mayo added 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for Coventry (21-2).

Hazel Qua had 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks before fouling out early in the fourth quarter for Suffield. River Seagrave also had 16 points for the Wildcats.

“Winning this was a lot harder than winning last year,” Coventry coach Kevin Clancy said. “Last year, we kind of had the underdog feel. Here, we did so well in the regular season and it was a lot more pressure.”

With Coventry the No. 2 seed and Suffield seeded third in the CIAC Division III bracket, the teams could meet again.

Player of the Game

Danielle Wheeler, Coventry: The sophomore guard had 27 points as the Patriots won back-to-back NCCC tournament titles.

Quotable

“They made four 3s in the first half. Wheeler had the game of her life. She just wouldn’t miss.” – Suffield coach Jason Qua.

Coventry 64, Suffield 46

Suffield: Addie Holmes 0 0-0 0, Hazel Qua 7 2-4 16, River Seagrave 5 6-6 16, Alex Eddy 3 3-4 10, Ava Petkovich 1 0-0 2, Jackie Murphy 0 2-2 2. Totals: 16 13-16 46.
Coventry: Ava Vieira 0 0-0 0, Ava Topliff 0 0-0 0, Reese Jeamel 5 2-3 13, Jianna Foran 4 5-7 13 Danielle Wheeler 10 2-7 27, Hailey Mayo 5 1-1 11, Aliza Sobol 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 10-18 64.
3-point field goals: S-Eddy; C-Wheeler 5.
Team records: Suffield 20-3, Coventry 21-2.

This article originally published at Top-seeded Coventry downs No. 2 Suffield to defend its NCCC girls basketball championship.

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