Trumbull Girls Rolls by Norwich Free Academy to Make CIAC LL Quarterfinals

Following a nervous start Friday, the girls basketball team recovered in time to defeat Norwich Free Academy 57-44 in a CIAC Class LL second-round contest.

Coming off their FCIAC championship, the top-seeded Eagles (23-1) trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and only held a 29-27 lead at the intermission against No. 17 NFA.

"I think we were a little anxious in the first half," said Trumbull Coach Steve Tobitsch, whose club will face No. 9 Career Magnet in the quarterfinals on Thursday. "But in the second half, we got back into our groove."

Mookie Kennedy scored 12 points to lead the Eagles while Kelly Coughlin and Erin Moore added 11 apiece.

Trumbull trailed 15-12 after the first quarter, allowing  NFA to score in transition, especially in the first half.

"They're a running team, very athletic," Tobitsch added.

The Eagles opened the second half with a 5-0 run, relying on their defense to slowly take control of the game. Trumbull led 45-38 at the end of the third period.

"We know our team thrives on our defense," Tobitsch said. "We score the majority of our points off it."

With six days before their next game,  the Eagles will take the weekend off before returning to practice on Monday.

Career Magnet advanced with a 44-32 win over Cheshire, which upset FCIAC runner-up Ridgefield in the first round.

Trumbull is seeking the second state championship in school history, winning its only title with a 49-48 victory over Lee in the 1974 Class L final. The Eagles did reach the state final in 2002, falling to NFA, 71-42.