East Hartford Girls Win First State Basketball Championship

UNCASVILLE, CT — After netting just two points in the first 7:59 of the Class LL championship game Sunday, and with her team trailing Wilton by three, East Hartford senior Shailyn Pinkney showed why she is headed for Division I college ball at Seton Hall, draining a long 3-point shot to tie the score as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter. It was a sign of what was still to come.

Pinkney wound up with 26 points and eight rebounds as the Hornets engineered a 13-0 run over a 3-minute span in the third quarter, breaking a 25-25 deadlock and eventually emerging with a 54-33 victory at the Mohegan Sun Arena for the program's first state title.

Kayla Henry had 14 points and Nia Edens added 11 for East Hartford, which entered the contest as the No. 2 seed.

Ashleigh Masterson was the only Warrior in double figures, tallying 16 points.