ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Sal Fiorillo (1st year).

Key returnees: So. G Megan Bauman, Sr. F Gabby Murphy.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Katie Durkee, So. F Kamryn Ebersole, Fr. G Sophie Dubreuil.

Outlook: Fiorillo, an East Lyme grad, returns to his old school to take over the Vikings after spending nine years as an assistant to Joe Grippo at Morgan. East Lyme was 10-14 a year ago, winning opening-round games in the ECC and Class L tournaments. Fiorillo welcomes a young team, but has two talented returnees in Bauman, a point guard, and Murphy, a power forward. A talented freshman class will add some excitement to the program, which faces a stiff test in Division I.

Fitch

Coach: Rocco Sansone (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. Janeen Porter, So. Jazzlyn Henderson, So. Ciarra Jimenez.

Top newcomers: Fr. Nyseanah Ishmael, Fr. Honora Ryan.

Outlook: The Falcons finished 10-13 overall during Sansone's first season, qualifying for the ECC and Class L tournaments. They will be young this season, with sophomores and freshmen playing key roles, but Sansone said, "As we get deeper into the season and we learn to play together, I believe we will have the opportunity to have a winning season and make the tournament."

Ledyard

Coach: Pete Vincent (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Johnay Burns, Jr. G Julia Lvin, Jr. G Sarah Serbascewicz, So. C Miranda Chesnut, So. G Katie Krupansky, Jr. F Delaney Gagnon.

Top newcomers: Jr. G/F Whitney Brandt, So. F Solana Parra-Polimeni, Fr. G Jade Langworthy, Fr. G/F Savannah Wahrer, Fr. F Tajeah Winston.

Outlook: The Colonels have some experience, returning five players who started games during a 9-13 season a year ago, but Vincent's team is still young as it prepares to compete against heavyweights New London and NFA in the move from ECC's Medium Division to Division I. Burns is a proven inside threat, Serbascewicz is a solid and experienced point guard and Chesnut provides some size up front, but how the newcomers develop and learn their roles within the rotation will be a key to Ledyard's success.

New London

Coach: Holly Misto (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Jada Lucas, Sr. C India Pagan, Jr. G Cora Sawyer, Jr. G Rosalee Nicholson, Jr. G Leilani Mclellan, So. F/G Spencer Roman.  

Top newcomers: So. F Xaryia Melendez, So. F Taina Pagan, So. G Da'Ja Uzzle, So. G Sophia Torres.

Outlook: The Whalers were 25-2 last season and Class L runners-up to Hartford Capital, falling 51-48 in the championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Misto's team returns a pair of Division I signees in Lucas (Hartford) and India Pagan (Stony Brook), who also played for the Puerto Rican U18 team over the summer. The Whalers lose 1,000-point scorer Charee Osborne to graduation, but return a number of experienced players who are anxious to show what they can do. New London has a difficult road ahead; the Whalers will now play in Division I of the ECC, up from the Medium, as well as jumping up a division for state tournament play into Class LL. Misto scheduled as many quality teams as she could to prepare the Whalers for what's to come, including Bay View Academy (Rhode Island) and Class M champion Cromwell just in the first week. "I reached out to I don't know how many schools," Misto said of the schedule. "We just need to take every game like we did last year, one game at a time; we don't get ahead of ourselves and we continue to improve as the weeks go by." Misto added a pair of new assistant coaches to the staff in former Chariho (R.I.) head coach Arianna Dolock and New London softball coach Missy Parker, the wife of Whalers' boys' basketball coach Craig Parker.

NFA

Coach: Bill Scarlata (25th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Mackenzie Burke, Sr. G Hailey Conley, Sr. F Jaida Davis, Sr. G Alenni Rosado, Sr. F Emily Williams, Sr. F Sharon Bell, Jr. G Kayley Ericson.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Olivia Boudreau, So. F Carsen Keith, So. G Maddy Perrino, Fr. F Makayla Poirier-Vaughters.

Outlook: The Wildcats are coming off another big season (23-4 overall) that included their fifth straight ECC tournament championship and a trip to the Class LL quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual champion Stamford, but a difficult schedule and some inexperience up front has Scarlata concerned. He has less worries about his backcourt, which features four-year varsity players Burke and Conley, who are both headed to Division II schools next year (Burke to Adelphi and Conley to Nova Southeastern in Tampa). NFA's schedule includes three programs which reached at least the Class LL quarterfinals a year ago (E.O. Smith, Mercy and Fairfield Warde) and two which reached at least the Class L quarters (New London and RHAM).

ECC Division II

Montville

Coach: Sam Cheung (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Brooke LaVallie, Sr. G Brianna Leone, Jr. F Emily Meigs, So. G Kara Beaupre, So. F Haley Kerwin.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Kristi Petrova, Sr. F Tiffany Evans, Jr. G Emily Genua, Jr. G Sierra Tally, Jr. F Angel Skulczyck, Fr. F Emma Hillman, Fr. G Mackenzie Clark.

Outlook: Senior Maddy Campbell will miss her second straight season due to a knee injury, but Cheung has plenty of experience to rely upon in his second season led by the backcourt of co-captains LaVallie and Leone. Meigs, Kerwin and Beaupre also earned valuable varsity minutes a year ago for Montville, which went 2-18, and Cheung welcomes some young talent to the program that he believes will make the Indians competitive in Division II this winter.

Stonington

Coach: Paulla Solar (25th year).

Key returnees: Sr. F/C Cameron Dreher, Jr. G Kate Hall, So. G Kate Johnson.

Top newcomers: So. C Izzadora Yarnall, Jr. G Elise Cataldi, So. G Miranda Arruda, Sr. F Olivia Bell, Sr. G/F Zoe Roberts, So. F Aliza Bell.

Outlook: The Bears must replace all-state G/F Tatyana LaFrance Boyce from a team that went 15-9 and reached the second round of the Class M tournament, but Hall (Class M state champion in the 100 meters in track) and Johnson give the Bears experience in the backcourt and Dreher will provide a solid inside presence. Newcomers will play key roles and give Stonington depth. Solar expects the Bears to be competitive within the division and contend for a state tournament bid.

Waterford

Coach: Mark Capasso (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Kayla Jean-Pierre, Sr. G Mia Brennan.

Top newcomers: Jr. Danie Gavino, Jr. G/F Ashley Goldstein, Jr. F Rebekah Sanders, So. F Julianna Bonillo, So. F Olivia Pacheco, So. G/F Liliana Stoddard.

Outlook: Capasso loses a deep and talented senior class which helped the Lancers to a 19-7 record and a berth in the ECC tournament championship game. About half this year's players are freshmen and Capasso said Waterford's goals include building team unity and improving every day. "There is enthusiasm and excitement about a big and hungry freshman class who possess skills," Capasso said. "There are also a group of girls in the other grades who have been patient for a chance to contribute and who are eager to show they belong on varsity." 

ECC Division III

St. Bernard

Coach: Mike Nystrom (33rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Kara Bassett, Sr. C Cait Dittman, Jr. G Briana Beverly, So. G Emily Nelson.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Sophie Nelson, Jr. G Emily Smith.

Outlook: This could be a big season for the Saints, who return four key players — led by all-state center Dittman (headed to Division II Adelphi in 2017) — and welcome back Sophie Nelson and Smith, who earned letters two seasons ago but did not play last season. St. Bernard should contend for the Division III title and improve upon last year's 11-13 record that included two state tournament wins and a trip to the Class S quarterfinals.

Wheeler

Coach: Christine Corah (2nd year).

Top returnees: Sr. F Raina Haase, Jr. G Emma Morgan, So. F Savannah Gallucci, So. G Jessica Neddeau, So. G Daniela Roy.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Samantha Muller, So. F Sarah Spracklin, Fr. F Samantha Caster, Fr. F Martha Brewster, Fr. G Savannah Johnson.

Outlook: The Lions graduated a large senior class from a team that went 6-14, but Corah returns plenty of talent in her second season and is hopeful Wheeler can be a factor in the Division III title race. "The returning players have been instrumental in transitioning the new players and demonstrating the expected level of dedication and intensity to the sport," Corah said. "I'm excited to see where this season takes us."

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Jeff Duda (6th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Lindsey Murray, Jr. G Morgan McNiel, Jr. F Elisa Lebron. So. F Erin Blake, Jr. F Shyanne Dickson.

Top newcomers: So. F Hannah Vandevander, Fr. G Topaz Baker, So. G Cassie Beaumont.

Outlook: The Eagles are young, with Murray the only senior, but three starters return from last year's 2-18 season, and newcomers will get a chance to earn varsity experience and provide depth for Grasso Tech, which hopes to be competitive in the Constitution State Conference.

Norwich Tech

Coach: Jamie Lamitie (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Madison Bodley, Sr. G Vanessa Gumbs, Sr. F Lauren Russi, Jr. G Daisy Palmisano, Jr. G Chloe Guzman, Jr. G Kalli Campbell.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Ashley Williams, Fr. G/F Marlayna Loranger, Fr. F Jurnee Gibson Cook, So. F Julia Robert.

Outlook: Lamitie expects the Warriors to be very competitive in the Constitution State Conference East Division, especially with the return of Gumbs and Guzman from season-ending injuries last season. Freshmen will also play major roles and provide Norwich Tech with much-needed depth. "We are looking forward to seeing how much the underclassmen will contribute," said Lamitie, whose Warriors were 7-11 last season.

Old Lyme

Coach: Don Bugbee (18th year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Olivia Ellis, Sr. C Tessa Kroes, Jr. F Audrey Gavin, Jr. G Jordan Lewis, Jr. G Maddie Zrenda.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Abby Berger, Sr. F Maggie Berger, Jr. G Una Barrett, Jr. G Emily Rivera, So. G Catey Battalino, So. G Claire Britton, So. G Paige Britton, So. G Britney DeRoehn, So. G Colleen Walsh, Fr. G Bella Arias, Fr. C Maddie Cann, Fr. G Emily Evers, Fr. G Brenna Lewis, F. C Taylor Thompson, Fr. G Lydia Tinnerello.

Outlook: The Wildcats went 10-12 a year ago, winning a first-round game in the Class S state tournament, and return the core of their lineup. Old Lyme also welcomes back Zrenda and Maggie Berger, who suffered knee injuries during the soccer season and couldn't play last season. Gavin is also coming back from a knee injury suffered late last season. Ellis, Kroes, Gavin, Zrenda and the 5-foot-11 Lewis will start for the Wildcats, although Bugbee said, "There are plenty of opportunities for everyone (freshmen to seniors) to work hard, step up their game and help make this a successful season" in the Shoreline Conference.

Williams

Coach: Aimee Fador (1st year).

Key returnees: Jr. F Camryn Werbinski, Jr. G/F Katerina Bourgeons, Fr. G Audrey Matson.

Top newcomers: Fr. G/F Kaitlyn Burzin, 8th G Catherine Shannon.

Outlook: Fador takes over an extremely young team that has no seniors and only two juniors in Werbinski and Bourgeons. Matson, a freshman, did get some varsity experience as an eighth-grader. "Many players are brand new to the sport or have very little experience," Fador said. "This will be a challenging basketball season, but a challenge happily accepted."