Hall advances to the state semifinals for a high-stakes rubber match with Enfield.

Hall vs. Simsbury girls basketball at Simsbury, March 5, 2018. Photo by Joy Taylor

By Marlon Pitter

With the Warriors’ season on the line and redemption on their minds, Olivia Deslauriers took matters into her own hands to make sure her team would survive and advance.

The sophomore scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as West Hartford’s Hall High School girls basketball team defeated Simsbury 41-33 on the road in the quarterfinal round of the CIAC Class LL state tournament on Monday night.

The win avenges a 56-47 loss to the Trojans on Jan. 3 before Hall went on a 13-game winning streak to finish the regular season 17-3.

Deslauriers – who started several games early in the season in place of senior Amber Raisner who was recovering from a knee injury – played a pivotal role off the bench on both sides of the ball.

“[Deslauriers] always gives us defense – we can always count on her,” said Hall head coach Brittany Huggins. “And now we’re like, ‘And she’s scoring on offense.’ She’s affecting the game on both ends in a major way.”

Hall entered the fourth quarter down one, trailing 26-25. Deslauriers wasted no time connecting on a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 28-26 advantage with 7:49 to play.

McKenna Finken, who led the game with 18 points for Simsbury, continued to make contested layups over the taller Maddy Mandyck. Her last bucket – with 4:45 remaining – put the Trojans on top 32-30.

Trailing again, Deslauriers made a driving layup and the ensuing free throw to give Hall a 33-32 lead at the 4:19 mark.

After a traveling violation by Simsbury, Deslauriers made a 3-pointer with 1:55 to play, putting the Warriors comfortably ahead 38-32.

Simsbury fouled with under a minute to play to extend the game, but Olivia Bonee sank three of her four free throws on two trips to the line to put the game out of reach.

Hall came out strong defensively to start the game, leading 8-5 after the first quarter. The Warriors held the Trojans to one point through the first 6:31 of game time before Simsbury went on a 4-0 run to end the first quarter.

Hall took a 17-16 deficit into the half as the teams traded baskets and the lead several times throughout the second quarter.

Simsbury led by seven twice in the third quarter, but Deslauriers and Raisner helped narrow the gap to one to heading into the fourth.

Hall moves on to the state semifinals for a third matchup against Enfield this year. The Warriors beat the Eagles 50-42 in overtime to win the Enfield Tournament Championship on Dec. 29 but lost to them in the CCC Tournament Championship 60-49.

On Friday, the teams will meet for the right to play in the state championship game. The location of the matchup is to be determined.

“We’re 1-1 [against Enfield],” Huggins said. We beat them once; they beat us once. They’re a great team, so it should be fun.”

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Hall vs. Simsbury girls basketball at Simsbury, March 5, 2018. Photo by Joy Taylor

Hall vs. Simsbury girls basketball at Simsbury, March 5, 2018. Photo by Joy Taylor