Girls Basketball: Makuch Helps Granby Memorial to First-Ever Class M Win

The No. 8 girls basketball team won its first-ever state Class M tournament game Monday evening with a 43-31 first-round victory over No. 25 Sacred Heart-Waterbury.

The Bears’ bench is 11 deep, so there is no shortage of players who can step up in any given game to provide a lift to the team.

This time it was forward Haley Makuch’s turn, as she scored a game-high 17 points against a tall, physical team that figured to present challenges inside.

“The big thing about Haley stepping up was that [Sacred Heart has] two big-time post players,” Granby Memorial head coach Dean Godin said. “[Makuch] was the best player on the floor. It’s nice to play somebody new, who doesn’t know what we’re trying to do.”

Makuch’s performance offset a rocky first half that saw the Bears (19-5) score just 15 points in the first two quarters, as they led 15-12 at interval.

“The first half, we didn’t get anything to drop,” Godin said. “We had so many opportunities inside, it was ridiculous. We made some adjustments in the second half and get Haley free a little bit easier.”

Granby Memorial built the lead to five at 23-18 after three quarters, before breaking out on a 5-0 run to start the fourth to lead 28-18.

Kristen Endorf scored 15 points for the Bears, while Ellie McDougall, Emily Stone and Michele Guttermith each had three and Kylynn Kane added two.

Sacred Heart (10-11) was led by Mikyla Jacobs’ 14 points, while Jenna LoRusso had seven, Dionne Parker had six, Maryn Vaillancourt had two and Liz Kinkenzeller and Elena Colaci each had one.

Sacred Heart head coach Ryan Sullivan was pleased with his team’s defensive effort, but disappointed with its offensive production.

“For us to score 31 points … the last time we played was Saturday, so I don’t know if it was the layoff. I just don’t have an answer,” Sullivan said.

Granby Memorial will next face No. 9 Plainfield at home on March 1 at 7 p.m.