Upset-Minded Southington Comes Up Short in Girls Hoop Tournament

ENFIELD, CT — The Enfield High School girls basketball team is hoping the old adage "the third time is the charm" comes true next Monday night.

After coming up short in the Class M semifinals the past two seasons, and consolidating with former crosstown rival Fermi High School at the start of the school year, Enfield will be returning to the Final Four, from a different league, in a different class and with a different nickname.

The second-seeded Eagles earned a trip to the Class LL semifinals by bouncing No. 23 Southington 54-43 Thursday night. Enfield will tangle with No. 3 New London on March 13, at a site and time to be determined. The winner of that matchup will play in the LL championship game next weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Southington had eliminated two higher-seeded opponents prior to visiting Enfield. The Blue Knights finished the season with a 14-9 record.

Two other teams from Hartford County saw their championship aspirations dashed Thursday in the Class M tournament. Top-seeded Suffield was upset by No. 9 Waterford, 44-35, while No. 7 St. Paul was edged by second-seeded Career Magnet, 50-46.

Patch file photo