The Conard girls basketball team hosted Fairfield Warde on Monday evening in West Hartford in the quarterfinals of the Class LL tournament.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Paul Palmer

On one side of the door the coaches stood hugging and celebrating. On the other side the players stood smiling, bruised, exhausted, happy, and determined.

When the door between them open it was a sight to see as the Conard girls basketball team celebrated as they played – together as one. “We are all a part of a family,” said freshman Brooklyn Knowles after the 57-42 win over Fairfield Warde in the quarterfinals of the CIAC Class LL state basketball tournament.

The Red Wolves avenged their elimination last year in the same round by playing an intelligent game, with aggression and confidence. “Losing in the quarters last year hurt,” said head coach Laurie Cersosimo. “This is special because  everything came together tonight.”

Conard took advantage of their opportunities all night long. Early on Warde was content to foul as the Red Wolves drove to the basket. If the intent was to deter them from coming inside, it did not work. It actually backfired as the Mustangs found themselves over the limit on team fouls 5:30 into the quarter and Conard took full advantage.

They went up 6-3 after a pair of free throws, and then 8-3 moment later. When Emily Knowles hit a turnaround in the lane with  1:25 to go, Conard led 10-3 en route to a 10-point lead after one.

Apparent to anyone watching is that Conard’s starting five were clicking as a unit at both ends of the court. One of the best examples in the first came when Callie Cosgrove drove the baseline, and found teammate Kathryn Torla on the wing with a pass. She found Emily Knowles for a quick jumper and it was 16-4.

There have been times this season when the Red Wolves seemed to be playing a dominant game and suddenly it fell apart. It’s happened in the second and third period, and a repeat performance Monday could have been disastrous.

Cersosimo has defined it as mental mistakes that her players had to learn from and eliminate. That is exactly what they did in the second quarter. Ninety seconds in, Knowles drove to the baseline, backed out, and passed it to Cosgrove standing in her favorite place – behind the 3-point arc – and she made no mistake on a shot to push it to 21-6.

The only thing that did go wrong for Conard was Emily Knowles picking up her third foul of the game with 3:19 to go in the second. It is a rarity to see Knowles pick up three fouls in a game, let alone in a little more than a quarter and a half.

Cersosimo had to sub Knowles out, but her teammates did not miss a beat. Cosgrove drove to the basket using a patented sidestep mover around defenders and watched her lay-up spin around the rim and fall through the twine for a 31-12 lead. In all, Conard would make 12 of 13 from the free throw line in the first half and they built the lead to 31-13 after two.

Entering the third Cersosimo showed the faith she had in her junior player Knowles by putting her right back in the game to start things. Knowles rewarded that faith and trust, continuing to play her game at both ends without committing another foul. “I couldn’t let three fouls stop me,” Knowles said after the game.

Warde was not about to give up either as they managed to cut the lead to as few as 14, leaving much of the huge crowd on edge on both sides of the court. With momentum in the balance, it was Cosgrove – with ice in her veins – dropping a 3.

In their last game, Conard got contributions from senior Kathryn Torla on the inside and junior Nicole Gorman from the outside. For both players it was a game that built confidence and extended the weapons that the Red Wolves could choose from. Against Fairfield Warde the Conard duo would not only have to score points but also turn in a big defensive effort.

The Mustangs had Peyton McIntosh in the middle and were determined to use her size, but Torla matched up with her all game and when the ball came inside, Gorman would drop down to double team and then spring back out to the edge to cover the outlet pass. The two were also chipping in on the offensive end with Torla fighting her way to the basket and Gorman picking up a loose ball going straight up with it and getting the hoop and harm to push the lead to 19 at 53-34 with 4:39 to play in the game.

“Before and during the game we talked about each possession one at a time without worrying about what happened,” Cersosimo said. “I am so incredibly proud of these guys.”

The win not only meant a lot to the players, but also to their coach. Cersosimo played basketball at Conard and was coached by Tom Verrengia – who now serves as an assistant on her staff. “It is humbling to come back to the school you played for,” Cersosimo said.

But it is more than playing for your alma mater; in this case it is about representing family and tradition. “My grandfather [Robert McKee] started sports at Conard, my brother [Matt Cersocimo] and dad [Rob Cersosimo] coach. I would not be who I am without all of the coaches and my family.” Cersosimo is quick to credit her players and her coaches for their effort and dedication, referring to them as a family – family looking for two more wins and the ultimate celebration.

No. 4 seed Conard will face No. 1 seed Sacred Heart on Friday, at a time TBA.

Game notes

• Knowles led Conard with 19 points, Cosgrove added 15, Courtney McPhee had 10. Torla scored nine and Gorman five in the win.
• This will be Conard’s first trip to the state tournament semifinals since 1978-79, when the then-Chieftains went 24-0 en route to the Class LL state championship.
• Conard’s 22 victories are the second-most in program history.
• Conard’s 22 victories tie the 2010-11 Hall Warriors for the third-most wins in a season for a team from West Hartford Public Schools.
• Conard has played 26 games this season. It’s the third-most games played by a team from West Hartford Public Schools with Hall’s 2010-11 team.
• Knowles has now scored 631 points this season – a school record.
• Cosgrove has scored 356 points this season and has moved past Delaney Connors (351 points in 2017) for 10th place.
• Conard had three players score in double figures for the second straight game – something they have never done in program history. It was the seventh time they have done it this season.

2023-24 Conard girls basketball roster

#0 Callie Cosgrove

#1 Evelyn Black

#2 Emily Knowles

#3 Ashley Gorman

#4 Ryelle Gomes

#5 Kathryn Torla

#10 Courtney McPhee

#11 Nicole Gorman

#15 Caroline Cersosimo

#20 Kate Colburn

#22 Bree Wilmes

#23 Clara McClay

#25 Brooklyn Knowles

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