E.O. Smith Gets Votes In Initial Girls Basketball Poll

STORRS, CT — The loss to graduation of last year's state Player of the Year McKenna Dale does not seem to have affected the E.O. Smith High School girls basketball team a whole lot thus far this season.

The Panthers (7-2) did not crack the top 10 of the initial girls basketball poll of coaches and media members, but did receive some support from voters.

E.O. Smith has two games on tap this week, highlighted by a Monday night showdown at fourth-ranked RHAM.

Mercy (7-0) and New London (8-0) tied for the top spot in the initial round of polling, garnering six first-places votes apiece.

Here are the top 10 teams, plus all other schools receiving votes, with records through Jan. 7.

1. Mercy (7-0)
   1. New London (8-0)
   3. Trumbull (7-0)
   4. RHAM (7-0)
   5. Enfield (7-1)
   6. Simsbury (7-0)
   7. Farmington (9-0)
   8. East Haven (7-1)
   9. Notre Dame-Fairfield (4-2)
   10. Holy Cross (6-1)

Also receiving votes: Wilton (5-1), Norwalk (6-1), Daniel Hand (5-2), Fairfield Warde (5-1), Bethel (6-2), Pomperaug (6-1), E.O. Smith (7-2), Northwestern Regional (7-0), Staples (6-1), Capital Prep (2-3), Jonathan Law (8-0), Conard (7-1), Stamford (5-3), Hall (5-3), East Lyme (7-2), St. Paul (6-1), Weston (6-0), Granby Memorial (5-0), Woodstock Academy (5-2), Career Magnet (4-3), Hamden (4-2).

Voters: David Danko, Fairfield Warde; Eric DeMarco, Notre Dame-Fairfield; Vickie Fulkerson, The Day of New London; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Ken Lipshez, Meriden Record-Journal; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Brian Medeiros, Canton; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Newspapers; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Fred Williams, Northwestern Regional; Richard Zalusky, Willimantic Chronicle; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen