ECC LARGE DIVISION

EAST LYME

Coach: Colleen Hardison (1st year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Jenna Schumacher, Sr. F Carynn Bartolucci, Sr. G Colleen Durkee, Sr. F Becca McGlone, Sr. G Kiana Ebersole.

Top newcomers: So. G Theresa Durkee, So. G Jordan Venditto, So. F Maggy Powers.

Outlook: Schumacher, an All-ECC selection last year, needs 32 points to reach 1,000 for her career and is 218 points from breaking Liz Buckley's all-time program record of 1,186 points. East Lyme (17-6, 7-3) has a great deal of senior leadership and will be competitive in the Large Division, according to Hardison, who takes over as head coach after formerly serving as a Vikings' assistant, as well as an assistant at Rhode Island College and the Coast Guard Academy. The former Colleen Smith, Hardison was a two-time all-state pick at Windham High School and played for both Southern Connecticut and Western Connecticut.

FITCH

Coach: Dave Huber (16th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Erica Russell, Sr. F Caroline Entwhistle, Jr. C Sofie Clark, Jr. G Jaliyla Griffin, Jr. G/F Jackie Lewis, So. G Mackenzie Aldridge.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Jasmine Jenkins, Jr. G Samantha Curtis, So. G Mae Sefransky, So. F/C Sydnee Spruill, So. G/F Brianna Robinson.

Outlook: The graduation of Lexis Foster leaves Fitch (5-15, 1-9) needing to replace a great deal of rebounding. It will be a tough task for the Falcons to move up in the competitive ECC Large Division, but Huber is looking forward to watching the combination of experienced players and newcomers to varsity rise to the challenge.

LEDYARD

Coach: Adam Baber (4th year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Hannah Lawrence, Sr. F Hannah Hutchins, Sr. G Ari Fustini, Sr. G Olivia DelGrosso, Sr. G Bianca Matira, Jr. F Holly Pianka, Jr. F Haley Hinton, Jr. F Michelle Klinikowski, Jr. G Fran Matira.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Haley Wilt, So. F Rebecca Ahlborn.

Outlook: Ledyard (20-5, 9-1) won the ECC Medium Division and reached the quarterfinals of the Class L tournament, but the Colonels will face an extra challenge this season in moving up into the Large Division. The good news: Ledyard returns experience at every position. The Colonels graduated The Day's 2012-13 All-Area Player of the Year in Kylie Fustini (12.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.3 apg), but return fellow All-ECC Medium pick Olivia DelGrosso outside, the team's leading scorer with 13.2 points per game (team-high 37 3-pointers) and Michelle Klinikowski inside with 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Ledyard should create a few new rivalries along the way in the Large, while competing for the title.

NFA

Coach: Bill Scarlata (21st year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Alyssa Velles, Sr. G Olivia Ouellet, Sr. F Emily Devito, Jr. G Maya Bell, Jr. F Olivia Lane, So. F Cebria Outlow, So. F Hannah Slocum.

Top newcomers: Fr. Sharon Bell, Fr. Haley Connelly, Fr. Alenni Rosado-Dejesus, So. Isis Deloatch.

Outlook: Velles is an All-ECC Large selection who has signed to play at the Division I level next year for Saint Peter's in New Jersey and is the Wildcats' leading scorer. NFA (18-6, 7-3) won the ECC tournament title a year ago, upsetting top seed and ECC Large champ Bacon Academy 41-39, the 14th tournament crown under Scarlata. The Wildcats return three starters and will most likely contend for a division title with a blend of experience and youth.

ECC MEDIUM

MONTVILLE

Coach: Derek Wainwright (10th year).

Key returnees: Sr. C Cassidy Bundy, Sr. G Jamie Hill, Jr. F Kiah Strickland, Jr. G/F Taylor LaVallie, So. G Naomi Clark.

Top newcomers: Sr. G/F Rebecka Leighton, Sr. F/C Catherine Matzul, Sr. G Nicole Walmsley, Jr. G/F Nicole Dutka, So. G Sabrina Gennotti, So. F Alex Clemons, Fr. G Brooke LaVallie.

Outlook: Bundy and Hill have been ECC all-stars for the bulk of their careers and Wainwright considers them both all-state candidates, making up half of the Indians' four returning starters. Bundy, at 6-foot-2, has signed to play for Division I Hartford next year. She averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots per game for Montville (18-7, 8-2), which reached the quarterfinals of the Class M state tournament. Clark will replace four-year starter Meghan Autencio at point guard. Dutka, a starter on the soccer and softball teams, will replace the injured LaVallie in the starting lineup, as the Indians vie for the Medium title left vacant by Ledyard's move to the ECC Large Division.

NEW LONDON

Coach: Kerrianne Dugan (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Lexus Childs-Harris, Sr. F Tamia Debarros-Cannon, Jr. G Deanna McCarvell, So. G Charee Osborne.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Jada Lucus, Fr. C India Pagan.

Outlook: In Dugan's first season last year, New London was 10-12 overall, 3-7 in the Large Division, qualifying for the ECC and state tournaments for the first time in eight years. That's only going to improve for the Whalers, who return Childs-Harris, an ECC honorable mention pick, and McCarvell, a sharp-shooting guard (61 3-pointers), and will benefit from the experience and a move to the Medium Division.

STONINGTON

Coach: Paulla Solar (23rd year).

Key returnees: Jr. C Margot Calmar, So. G Taty LaFrance-Boyce.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Annie Knizeski, Sr. G Chelsea Alfonso, Sr. G Samantha Shroyer, Sr. G Tia LaFrance-Boyce, Jr. G Megan Sartor.

Outlook: Calmar and Taty LaFrance-Boyce were Medium Division honorable mention selections for the Bears (14-9, 7-3), and might just form one of the better one-two punches in the region. Boyce led the team in scoring as a freshman with 12.5 points per game and had a team-high 91 steals, while Calmar averaged 11.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Solar will have to fill in the other three starting positions around them, but the coach expects to be competitive with everyone on the schedule. Solar will face off against her brother, Ed Kolnaski, the first-year coach at Waterford, on Dec. 20 at Stonington.

WATERFORD

Coach: Ed Kolnaski (1st year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Kelley Dugan, Sr. C Megan Elphick, Jr. F Sarah Pacheco, So. G Claire Hurley, So. G Kazi Walker, So. G Shea Spellman. So. G Lauren Goldstein, So. C Vanessa Kobyluck.

Top newcomers: So. F Mackenzie Merriman, So. G Jill Sykora, So. G Sara Buscetto, Fr. G Mia Brennan.

Outlook: The Lancers (4-16, 4-6) were so young last year that they're still young despite a season's experience. Kolnaski's team has talent, however, and the former assistant/now-head coach believes that, combined with hard work, will result in Waterford's return to the state tournament. Dugan and Elphick share the captain's duties.

ECC SMALL

ST. BERNARD

Coach: Mike Nystrom (31st year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Brittney Walenta, Sr. F Casey Sullivan, Sr. G Ali Patterson, Sr. F Ali Regan, Jr. F Kaitlyn Berkel.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Erica Massad, So. G Courtney Rose, Fr. C Caitlyn Dittman.

Outlook: The Saints (14-10, 8-2) have four starters returning, including Sullivan, who signed to play next season at Division II Mercy College in New York. Sullivan averaged 17.1 points per game a year ago with 58 3-pointers, 22 rebounds, 76 blocked shots, 55 steals and 53 assists, earning All-ECC and Class S all-state honors, while Walenta was named honorable mention All-ECC. The Saints will contend to win the Small Division title left vacant by Plainfield's move to the Medium Division. "We have a lot of experience, good athletes and some size," Nystrom said. "I'm looking forward to a fun and successful season."

OTHERS

GRASSO TECH

Coach: Jeff Duda (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G/F Tonia Johnson, Jr. G/F Serenity Kidd-Brewer, So. F/C Tabitha Ford, So. G Keila LaStraglio.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Preonna Boyd.

Outlook: Ford, Johnson and Kidd-Brewer return to the starting lineup for the Eagles (4-16, 1-10 Constitution State Conference), giving them more experience than they enjoyed a year ago. Ford led the team in scoring with 7.1 points per game.

NORWICH TECH

Coach: Adam Lachendro (5th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Kianna Dailey, Sr. G Brittany Meyer, Jr. C Elanna Sanon, So. G Connor Sulik.

Top newcomers: Fr. F Abbey Pater.

Outlook: Lachendro lists his team as young, graduating five, but feels the Warriors (2-18, 1-10 CSC) can build chemistry and improve game by game with significant contributions from the younger players.

OLD LYME

Coach: Don Bugbee (15th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Hannah Behringer, Sr. G Kristina Cain, Jr. G Meredith Aird, Jr. F Mary Cate Devlin, Jr. C Hannah O'Brien, Jr. F Hannah Paynter, Jr. G Catie Quaratella, Jr. F Julia Strycharz, So. G Sloane Sweitzer.

Top newcomers: So. G Silja Forstein, So. G Colleen Mueller, Fr. G Abby Stone.

Outlook: Old Lyme (5-15) returns its entire roster. "With the addition of the younger kids moving up, it now makes us really deep," Bugbee said. "The kids are working hard so far and there is competition for all of the spots." Old Lyme plays in the Small Division of the Shoreline Conference. Behringer was an all-state pick this fall for the Shoreline champion girls' soccer team. Bugbee's assistant coach, in her first season, is former Old Lyme athlete Winnie (Bing) Edmed.

WILLIAMS

Coach: Eliza Smith (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Marion Philippe, Jr. F Kailah Waheed, Jr. G Paola Vangjeli.

Top newcomers: So. G Bea Mills.

Outlook: Phillipe is the Blues' only senior on a relatively young team. Smith, however, said the team will try to play uptempo, both offensively and defensively, to create opportunities.