Monroe Squeaks By New Canaan 6th Grade Girls Basketball Team.
On Saturday, January 26th, a very physical and verbal team from Monroe squeaked by the New Canaan 6th Grade Girls basketball team as the tying three pointer by Abby Carstensen was disallowed by a referee.
With veteran starters: Chloe Shorten Abby Carstensen, Olivia Cosco, Lauren Bisceglia and KK Marcus, NC jumped out to a quick lead. Tenacious defense by Lauren, KK and Chloe shut down Monroe’s high scorers but still they clawed their way back and the first quarter ended 5-5. Abby had a hot hand in the 2nd quarter as she poured in 6 points. NC built a slight lead at the half with the score NC 12, Monroe 9.
Monroe came out red hot in the 2nd half and pulled away with a 15-13 Monroe run. But NC wouldn't quit. With great shooting by Lauren, Olivia and Abby, NC came roaring back pulling within 6 and then 4 and then…. Abby almost tied the game with a heroic 3 pointer that brought the crowd to its feet but the referee saw something no one else did and changed the 3 pointer into a 2 pointer as NC's comeback fell to a one point loss.
Final score: NC 23, Monroe 24.
NC 6th Grade Girls Lose To Tough Team from Southbury.
On Sunday, January 27th, the New Canaan 6th Grade Girls basketball team lost a close game to a very physical team from Southbury.
NC starters included their veteran players: Chloe Shorten, Abby Carstensen, Olivia Cosco, Lauren Bisceglia and KK Marcus. KK started off the scoring with a pretty basket but Southbury immediately answered. NC had trouble decoding Southbury's full court press but made up for it with extra hustle. It was tied at 6-6 until a late spurt in the 1st quarter gave Southbury a 6-10 lead. Coming off the bench, Libby Tedford, Maura Mullaney, Kendall Patten and Ryan Mushkin gave NC an extra spark as things got quite physical. There were a lot of whistles and not many baskets as Southbury extended their lead to 6 points at the half with the score, NC 8 – Southbury 14. The third quarter was more of the same, very physical play as Chloe fought off double and triple teams; Olivia made some nice shots, as did KK. Katelyn Sparks, Sadie Seelert, Emily Shizari, Mushkin and Mullaney went toe to toe with the sluggers from Southbury. Both teams couldn't buy a basket as they focused on physical defense, it was a very low scoring 3rd quarter that ended NC - 10, Southbury - 18. NC tried to make a run in the 4th quarter with strong defense by Sparks, Patten and Shizari. Also, good solid rebounding by Seelert and Mushkin and fearless drives by Tedford who went to the line for some crucial free throws. But with only 6 points in the 2nd half, NC couldn't get close and the game ended with Southbury 21, NC 14.
