By Michael Letendre
MIDDLETOWN – The Bristol Eastern girls basketball team lost their final game of the season, dropping a 71-63 decision to Middletown in the consolation round of the CCC Tournament, Championship Bracket on Wednesday night.
Eastern finished its season with a 10-4 record while Middletown improved to 11-3 overall.
The Blue Dragons were ranked sixth in the championship fray while the Lancers were eighth.
Bristol Eastern All-State candidate Ciara Collins dropped in 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to complete a tremendous campaign.
Sage Scarritt went for 10 points, six rebounds, and three steals, Cali Doyon added nine points, 10 assists and six steals while Janessa Gonzalez nabbed four points and six rebounds.
Taigan Parent added four points, two rebounds and two assists for the Lancers.
Tyah Pettaway scored 21 points, Shadae Bushay added 20 while Shalyn Smith notched 13 for the victors.
Eleven lead changes between the squads, along with two ties, saw Eastern keep up with Middletown for almost the entire showdown.
A floater by Collins with 5:20 to play made it a 61-58 contest but an 11-0 run over the next 4:20 saw the Blue Dragons pull out a 69-61 push with just under two minutes to play.
Eastern scooped up a 9-1 push about 95 seconds into the game – capped by a 3 from Collins.
Middletown then retook the lead with 31 seconds to go in the first as the home team etched up a 23-17 advantage.
But from there, the Lancers went on a blazing 16-0 run as Collins scored half the points over the jaunt.
To end the run, Doyon and Emma Stavens (two points, four rebounds) hit hoops with Eastern zipping up a 33-23 lead with 3:55 remaining before the half.
Eastern led by eight late but Middletown chopped the deficit to three to end the half, trailing 37-34 to enter halftime.
The third quarter saw the Lancers score the first five points of the period, taking a 42-34 lead when Doyon dished to Scarritt for two.
But an 18-8 run saw Middletown toast up a 50-48 tally with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
In the fourth quarter, the teams traded baskets for the first four minutes but Collins nailed down her floater with 5:20 remaining to help Eastern score up a 61-58 lead.
From there, Eastern’s offense fell flat, Middletown outscored the Lancers 13-2 over the final four minutes to come away with the 71-63 victory.
NOTES…The game marked the final contest for Eastern seniors, captains Sage Scarritt, Cali Doyon, and Alyssa Kehler.
GIRLS BASKETBALL PAIRINGS
Championship Bracket
Round 1 – March 22
#8 Bristol Eastern 35, #1 Newington 55
#5 East Hartford 28, #4 Southington 30
#6 Middletown 36, #3 Simsbury 51
#2 Windsor wins by forfeit over #7 EO Smith
Semifinals – March 24
Southington 32, Newington 49
Simsbury 32, Windsor 41
Consolation – March 24
Bristol Eastern 63, Middletown 71
CCC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP, girls basketball – consolation round
No. 6 MIDDLETOWN 71, No. 8 BRISTOL EASTERN 63
from Middletown high school
Bristol Eastern (10-4) 19 18 13 13 – 63
Middletown (11-3) 23 11 18 19 – 71
BRISTOL EASTERN (63): Taigan Parent 2 0 4, Ciara Collins 12 5 30, Cali Doyon 4 0 9, Alyssa Kehler 1 0 2, Sage Scarritt 5 0 10, Audrey Tice 1 0 2, Emma Stavens 1 0 2, Janessa Gonzalez 2 0 4. Totals: 28 5 63.
MIDDLETOWN (71): Jenaya Salafia 0 0 0, Jada Bryant 1 3 5, Aysia Henderson 1 0 2, Tyah Pettaway 9 3 21, Kya Mayo 4 0 10, Shadae Bushay 7 4 20, Shalyn Smith 4 2 13. Totals: 26 12 71.
Three-point goals: Collins (BE), Doyon (BE), Smith (M) 3, Bushay (M) 2, Mayo (M) 2.
Records: Middletown 11-3 overall; Bristol Eastern 10-4
