Days after winning its first North Central Connecticut Conference regular season title since 1978, the Suffield Girls Basketball team won its first NCCC tournament championship in 12 years. The No. 1 Wildcats dominated No. 2 East Windsor, 53-29 Thursday.
Freshman Erin Carucci stepped forward for 21-2 Suffield with a game-high 21 points.
“As a freshman, it’s pretty cool to win it, especially with my sister,” Carucci said.
Her sister Kelly, a senior, (9.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG) gave her some advice before the game that made Erin believe it was her time.
“Calm down,” Erin was told by Kelly. “Don’t let your nerves get the best of you. It’s just another basketball game. The outcome will hopefully be what we want.”
Senior McKenzie Ruszcyk had 20 points, including three 3-point field goals in her final NCCC game.
East Windsor (19-4) was led by Lauren Keel, who scored 10 points. Loren D’Agostino had seven. The two both were named to the All-NCCC team before the game, but managed just six first half points as the Wildcats jumped out to a 29-12 advantage. The Panthers were unable to secure a first girls NCCC tournament championship for any East Windsor sport.
The Wildcats open CIAC tournament play Tuesday as Class M’s top seed against the winner of Waterbury Career Academy vs. Goodwin Tech. East Windsor is the No. 4 seed in Class S. The Panthers meet Abbott Tech, Monday.
An all-access video look into the action is available in the above video player. Lights On CT, on-air and online at cptv.org. Use #lightsonct for more information on Twitter (@CPTVOnline), Instagram (@CPTVSports), and facebook.com/connecticutpublictelevision.