E.O. Smith Routs Platt Girls in Quarterfinals

Storrs -- The Panthers of E. O. Smith were worthy of their nickname Monday night, while the Panthers of Platt came up toothless in the teams' Class L girls' basketball quarterfinal matchup.

Platt was held scoreless in the second quarter, and E.O. Smith coasted to a 49-27 victory.

Neither team could generate much offense in the first quarter. Two-and-a-half minutes went by before Damika Martinez got on the scoreboard for Platt. Morgan Olander finally got E.O. Smith started with a baseline jumper and later canned a 3-pointer, as did Murphy Murad, for a 13-8 lead at the end of the period. 

Smith began the second period by applying a full-court press that seemed to discombobulate Platt, which repeatedly turned the ball over and couldn’t buy a bucket. Murad sparked the offense with another of her two-handed set shots from the corner for three on the way to an 8-point period. The score was 34-8 at halftime.

Platt pulled itself together somewhat in the third period, actually outscoring Smith 12-9. Damika Martinez again led the way with a pair of scores, but Elisa Plaza, the big girl in the middle, picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench.

Platt won the fourth period too, 7-6, but that scoreless second period was much too much to overcome.

Olander led E.O. Smith with 20 points on the night, while Murad added 13. Platt was led by Martinez, who had 14. 

“We were just stone cold,” Platt coach Tom Johnson said, “ and the turnovers just killed us.” 

Smith now moves on to the semifinals to meet the winner of the RHAM-Torrington game.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge either way,” said E.O. Smith coach Kirk Murad. “We beat RHAM twice, but that last game was real close, and Torrington has one of the best players in the state in Sarah Royals.”