E.O. Smith Wins Battle Of The Panthers For 1st State Basketball Title

UNCASVILLE, CT — Just two things were certain entering the CIAC girls basketball Class L finals Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena: either Pomperaug or E.O. Smith would win its school's first-ever girls basketball state championship, and undoubtedly the Panthers would prevail.

With both teams carrying that nickname, the "Battle of the Panthers" began as a see-saw affair, with neither squad scoring twice consecutively until less than three minutes remained in teh fist quarter. E.O. Smith scored five straight points to end the first quarter, opening up a 7-oint margin, and never looked back en route to a 58-46 victory.

Pomperaug did trim the deficit to three near the midpoint of the third quarter, but could get no closer, as E.O. Smith iced the title by making 13 free throws in the final five and a half minutes.

Madi Hughes topped all E.O. Smith scorers with 20 points, while Jill Dingler and Paige Raynor contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively. Pomperaug's Claudia Schneider took game scoring honors with 23 points, the only player from her team to reach double figures.

Each team had been 0-2 in previous championship game appearances. E.O. Smith fell in the title game in 2011 to Hillhouse and 2012 to Bacon Academy, while Pomperaug's last championship game was a loss to Hillhouse in the 2004 Class L finals.