West Hartford’s Conard High School hosted – and won – the inaugural ‘C’ Classic Holiday girls basketball tournament.
Emily Knowles beats her defender and glides in for the basket off an inbound pass from Courtney McPhee. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
By Paul Palmer
Emily Knowles led all scorers with 24 points and Courtney McPhee chipped in 15 and a handful assists, as the Red Wolves beat East Hartford 54-40 Friday night in the championship game of the “C” Classic Holiday Tournament.
“It was our first tournament here and we just wanted to win it all,” said Knowles.
Coming off a lopsided win over Hall in Friday’s opener, Conard had to deal with a bigger, stronger, and more aggressive Hornets team. Unfortunately for East Hartford, their inside shooting let them down all game long and allowed the Red Wolves to build and maintain a lead throughout. The early play was sloppy and a bit tentative with each side missing on its first two possessions before Kathryn Torla dropped in a layup off a McPhee assist.
Courtney McPhee of Conard keeps the East Hartford player in check. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
McPhee made several strong drives to the net for baskets, Knowles hit – and when Knowles hit a 3 with 5:00 gone in the first it was 10-2 Conard. The Hornets fought back to pull within four at 10-6, before Kate Colburn – making her first start – drained a 3 of her own and the hosts led 15-6 after one period.
“Our game plan is always to just focus on ourselves,” said Conard coach Laurie Cersosimo. “It stays the same if we are up or down in the score.”
When Conard is playing its game, there is a rhythm on both sides of the ball that lets them go on big runs almost at will. But when they are out of sync, it allows teams to hang around and forces the Red Wolves into unforced errors. Conard managed just 10 points in the second quarter, while East Hartford went for eight. If the Hornets had been able to score on half of the chances they were getting inside, they would have had the lead at intermission instead of trailing by 11.
Conard’s starting 5 (left to right) Nicole Gorman, Emily Knowles, Kathryn Torla, Courtney McPhee, and Kate Colburn. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Fortunately for Conard, Cersosimo knows what has to be done to get the team out of its funk. “They just need reset, so I’ll take a timeout,” or in this case get the break at the half . “I remind them to stay in control. They always work hard,” Cersosimo said.
The message got through at halftime. Knowles nailed a 3 off an inbounds pass to make it a 16-point lead early in the third, and when McPhee rebounded a missed shot and got the putback with just under 2:00 to go, Conard had built a 35-19 lead. The Red Wolves’ defense played a more focused, aggressive game, forcing turnovers and missed shots throughout the quarter.
Nicole Gorman put the emphatic exclamation point on the third with her block at the buzzer that left things at 39-19.
Nicole Gorman launches a 3 against East Hartford. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Conard has been without junior Callie Cosgrove who is almost ready to return from an injury. Her absence has allowed Colburn and freshman Caroline Cersosimo to get valuable playing time. Colburn was strong on defense and more than held her own against a bigger East Hartford front. She did get into foul trouble and had to sit out some minutes before returning later in the game.
Cersosimo’s passing game was on point, and the best came when she fired a bullet pass to Knowles, moving the ball around the arc, and Knowles drained a 3 from the right-hand side to make it a 45-28 game. “We knew it would be physical, but we just focus on ourselves and keep going,” Knowles said.
Caroline Cersosimo is focused at the free throw line. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
East Hartford did make a late run, with an assist by another chunk of cold shooting from Conard, to pull to within 10 with just over 1:00 to go. It was too little too late though, as Conard scored the game’s final four points and closed it out at 54-40.
After the game, Cersosimo spoke of the game that Knowles gives the Red Wolves day in and day out. “She finds space better than any player I have ever coached,” said the coach. “Courtney [McPhee] does a great job of finding her.”
Kate Colburn gets the shot off over an East Hartford defender. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The Conard players celebrated winning it all by getting the first-place plaque at center court and posing for deserved photos. It was fitting that every player was there for the photos because their coach knows they are all needed to find success. “ \Everybody plays a role on this team. Kate [Colburn] stepped into her role tonight, and Caroline [Cersosimo] stepped into her role.” That luxury, combined with a group of talented underclassmen who got valuable minutes in Friday night’s win, bode well for the rest of the season.
In the consolation game Friday, Leah Berey went for 24 of Hall’s 44 points, as the Titans fell to Manchester 71-44.
Leah Berey of Hall scored 24 points in a 71-44 loss in the consolation game to Manchester. ‘C’ Classic Holiday Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Pressure by Emily Knowles and the Conard defense kept East Hartford out of rythym most of the game. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Kate Colburn cuts off Taliyah O’Neals path in the first half. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Conard coach Laurie Cersosimo talks it over with her team. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Nicole Gorman puts the icing on the cake for Conard with a late, breakaway layup. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Conard players pose with the winners plaque after the win over East Hartford. Conard vs. East Hartford. ‘C’ Tournament. Dec. 29, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
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