By Michael Letendre
WOLCOTT – The Bristol Eastern girls basketball teams ended up in the finals of the 2023 Wolcott Holiday Tournament on Thursday night, dropping a tough 60-50 decision to Naugatuck Valley League challenger Watertown from Wolcott High School.
The loss was the first one for the Lancers this season (5-1 overall) as the squad simply couldn’t slow the Warriors in the end.
Watertown (3-3) led by five at the half – snaring a 28-23 edge — before running the Eastern deficit to double figures to end the third.
The Lancers trailed 46-34 through three completed frames and couldn’t play catch-up in the end.
In the title tilt, Autumn Udoh dropped in a game-tying high 20 points and, along with her 22-point performance against Southington, the standout sophomore averaged 21.0 points-per-game over the two-game jaunt.
Savannah Drury canned three threes for nine points, Vanessa Drury added eight while forward Amanda Noel posted seven points against the Warriors.
Freshmen Cassie Sward nabbed six points to complete Eastern’s scoring exploits.
For Watertown, Ariel’s dropped in 20 points while teammate Casey O’Toole added 17.
Eastern trailed 15-13 through one and never nabbed any type of edge by the completion of the other three quarters of play.
To qualify for the championship round, the Kingstreeters battled CCC challenger Southington in a huge league battle on Wednesday evening.
The Lancers were able to snare a 51-46 victory over the Knights which pushed their ledger to 5-0 to that point of the campaign.
Udoh led Eastern in scoring (22 points) while Vanessa Drury added 11.
Savannah Drury splashed in seven points, Noel cashed in on six while Alaina Joy and Lauren Ayotte each posted a hoop.
Lily Cooper hit for 22 points over the losing effort for Southington (1-4 overall).
The showdown was all tied up ay 9-9 through one period while Eastern zipped up a 25-22 lead at intermission.
Southington closed the deficit to 36-34 with one period to go and the Lancers held on to eke out a five-point victory in Wolcott.
Finals of the 2023 Wolcott Holiday Tournament
WATERTOWN 60, BRISTOL EASTERN 50
from Wolcott High School
Bristol Eastern (5-1) 13 10 11 16 – 50
Watertown (3-3) 15 13 18 14 – 60
BRISTOL EASTERN (50): Vanessa Drury 4 0 8, Natalia Vye 0 0 0, Cassie Sward 2 2 6, Amanda Noel 1 5 7, Lauren Ayotte 0 0 0, Savannah Drury 3 0 9, Autumn Udoh 9 0 20. Totals: 19 7 50.
WATERTOWN (60): Ariellys Velez 9 2 20, Nicholette Forte 2 1 6, Casey O’Toole 7 3 17, Caitlyn Grobel 2 0 6, Kobee Young 1 2 4, Isabella Beauty 3 1 7. Totals: 24 9 60.
Three-point goals: Savannah Drury (BE), 3, Autumn Udoh (BE) 2, Nicholette Forte (W), Caitlyn Grovel (W) 2.
Records: Watertown 3-3 overall; Bristol Eastern 5-1.
Opening Round, 2023 Wolcott Tournament
BRISTOL EASTERN 51, SOUTHINGTON 46
from Wolcott High School
Bristol Eastern (5-0) 9 16 11 15 – 51
Southington (1-4) 9 13 12 12 – 46
BRISTOL EASTERN (51): Vanessa Drury 5 0 11, Alaina Joy 1 0 2, Cassie Sward 0 1 1, Amanda Noel 2 2 6, Lauren Ayotte 1 0 2, Savannah Drury 2 1 7, Autumn Udoh 7 7 22. Totals: 18 11 51.
SOUTHINGTON (46): Gianna Mathews 2 0 4, Grace Russo 2 0 4, Bethany Borges 2 0 4, Hannah Blanchard 4 0 9, Lily Cooper 8 3 22, Roxy Cardillo 0 1 1, Alexa Poutouves 1 0 2. Totals: 19 4 46.
Three-point goals: Vanessa Drury (BE), Savannah Drury (BE) 2, Autumn Udoh (BE), Hannah Blanchard (S), Lily Cooper (S) 3.
Records: Bristol Eastern 5-0 overall; Southington 1-4.
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