ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: P.J. Zipser (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G-F Neva Flickinger, Sr. G-F Lindsay Todd, Jr. G Kate Erikson, So. G Juju Guarraia, So. F Rilynn Pollard.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Kenna Page, So. F Brianna Dmowski, So. G-F Taylor Kachinsky, So. G Brouwer Kenney, So. G Emma Stoddard, Fr. F Cailin Delaney, Fr. G Cassidy O'Brien.

Outlook: East Lyme (7-15, 2-4) graduated four starters, including first team ECC all-star Izzy Pazzaglia, which leaves the Vikings with relative inexperience. But Zipser likes his team’s young talent. “We may take some lumps early but hope to develop into a complete team as the year progresses and our younger players gain more experience,” Zipser said.

Fitch

Coach: Falecia Porter (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Dre’Ana Singleton, Sr. G Mariette El Khoury, Sr. G Gabby Dimock, Sr. G Meleeya Robbins, Sr. G Sierra Lund, Jr. F Ada Ellis.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Leilani McCoy, Fr. G Synaa Waters, Fr. G Katherine Wenger, Fr. F Jayda Johnson.

Outlook: Fitch (15-9, 4-2) returns everyone, including El Khoury, the Falcons’ leading scorer and a Class L all-state selection. Fitch was second in the division last year and played in the ECC Division I and Class L state tournaments, but it left the Falcons wanting more, according to Porter, with the coach calling her team “hungry for redemption.” “This level of drive and motivation makes for a very fun and competitive atmosphere every day at practice,” Porter said. “We are focused on playing one game at a time while our larger goal is to put a banner in our gym come March.” El Khoury is a first team All-ECC pick, while point guard Singleton and Dimock were honorable mention selections. Porter’s husband Keith, the player development coach for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, is a member of the Falcons’ staff.

New London

Coach: Tammy Millsaps (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Italia Salls, Jr. F Serenity Lancaster, Jr. F Ky-Ani Allgood, So. G Nyarah Dudley.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Lily Davis, Fr. G Jadelis Rivera, Fr. G Marlena Childs, Fr. G Joarlisse Guzman, Fr. G Kymyiah Willis.

Outlook: The Whalers (21-6, 7-1 ECC Division II) were a picture of resilience in winning the Class MM state championship last season with only seven players. Nalyce Dudley, an all-state selection and The Day’s All-Area Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, is now playing at Division I Sacred Heart. But the rest of New London’s lineup returns, including 6-foot-2 all-state forward Serenity Lancaster, and the returnees are joined by a host of freshmen that Millsaps said will be exciting to watch, giving the Whalers a grand total of 12 on their current roster. New London moves up to ECC Division I after capturing the Division II title last season.

NFA

Coach: Courtney Gomez (5th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Nevaeh Yorke, Sr. G Brooke Bolles, Sr. F Willow Ludlow, Sr. G Naiya Stone, Jr. F Emily Orcutt, Jr. G Brooke Stringer, Jr. G Emily Ye.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Jordan Bay-Kent, Jr. G Chloe Green, So. F-C Petra Berry, So. G Sophie Miner.

Outlook: NFA (10-13, 5-1) ended last season on a high note. After starting the year 0-6, the Wildcats rallied to win the ECC Division I championship and earned ECC tournament and Class LL state tournament berths, winning their first-round LL tournament game against higher-ranked Amity. Orcutt, who was NFA’s leading scorer and rebounder last year, and Yorke were ECC all-stars in the division. Gomez will rely on the experience of the juniors and seniors to lead the Wildcats against a tough schedule. Said Gomez: “Losing only two seniors from last year, NFA has a deep roster with options for different styles of play.”

(ECC Division I also includes Woodstock Academy)

ECC Division II

Bacon Academy

Coach: Kevin Fennell (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Cara Shea, Sr. G Emily Ferrigno, Jr. G Katelyn Novak, Jr. C Liz Glover, Jr. F Veronica Smith, So. F Skyelyn Schoen-Rene.

Top newcomers: So. G Reagan Reid.

Outlook: The Bobcats (19-5, 6-2) graduated only one senior, Marissa Nudd, from a team which beat eventual state champion New London during the regular season and went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Class M state tournament. A Class M all-state selection, Nudd is now playing at Division II Southern Connecticut State University. But Bacon’s returnees are certainly experienced. Shea and Novak, both 3-point threats, were ECC honorable mention picks. Fennell said that Schoen-Rene and Ferrigno will lead the Bobcats’ transition game and Glover and Smith will bring their defensive prowess from the soccer field into the basketball season. New to the program is Reid, a transfer from Lyman Memorial, who joins what Fennell calls a “strong group” of freshmen.

Ledyard

Coach: Mike Morgan (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Cierra Bravar, Sr. G Cassie Rice, Sr. F Helena Robinson, Jr. G Adrianna Hardison, So. G Margaret Dykes.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Anna Maynard, So. G Faith Dalton, So. F Tara McGrath, Fr. F Olivea Shelton.

Outlook: Ledyard has a strong group of returnees from the team that reached the ECC Division I tournament final last year at Mohegan Sun, plus the addition of Bravar, who suffered a season-ending injury last year. Hardison and Dykes are primed to take over the ball-handling responsibilities in keeping with the Colonels’ fast-paced style, which should give them no problem adjusting to their first season with a shot clock. Rice finished with 45 3-pointers last season for Ledyard (14-11, 5-3) and Hardison was an ECC honorable mention all-star.

Waterford

Coach: Kaitlyn Sullivan (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Cate Smathers, Sr. G Emma Smathers, So. F Lucy Walker, So. F Jennie Macca-Barnes, So. G Sadie Tiven.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Brianna McNeil, So. F Audrey Steward, So. F Sarah Davidson, Fr. C Serafina Weymouth.

Outlook: Growing pains struck the young Lancers last season, as they finished 7-16 overall and 0-8 in ECC Division II. Sullivan returns three starters from that team, however, Tiven, Walker and Macca-Barnes, all of whom were freshman and now have more seasoning. “We look forward to the continued growth and development of our young team and hope to be competitive within our division and qualify for the postseason,” Sullivan said. Waterford graduated All-ECC first team pick Julia Knowles.

(ECC Division II also includes Killingly)

ECC Division III

Griswold

Coach: Bill Hanley (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. F Faith Russell, Sr. G Nat Becotte, Jr. G Abby Matheson.

Top newcomers: So. G Natalia Toucet, So. G Madison Pudvah, So. F Bre Harraka, So. G Sadie Gervais, So. F Taylor Burdick, Fr. G Kaidence Wichael, Fr. Sam Wawrzynowicz, Fr. G Bella Bruno.

Outlook: A flood of freshmen and sophomores dot the Griswold roster, which will rely on its returning upperclassmen for leadership. The Wolverines (8-15, 2-6) are looking to build on last year’s ECC Division II and Class M state tournament berths to build a strong core group moving forward. Matheson was an All-ECC honorable mention selection.

Montville

Coach: Scott Chiasson (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. C Emily Treat, Jr. G Jada Cheung, Jr. G Nicole Hudson, Jr. F Katie Koning, So. F Anna Bubucis.

Top newcomers: So. F Tiana Bamber, So. G Karissa Hochdorfer.

Outlook: Chiasson calls last season a learning experience for Montville (2-19, 0-8), which was defined by inexperience. But the Wolves return four out of five starters, including first team ECC Division III all-star Jada Cheung, which Chiasson is hoping improves the Wolves’ confidence. He believes that with Cheung leading the offense and the inside presence of Treat and Bubucis on defense, Montville could make a run at a postseason berth.

Stonington

Coach: Paulla Solar (32nd season)

Key returnees: Jr. C Rory Risley, Jr. F Katelyn Cadmus, So. G Leah DePerry.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Presley Smith, Jr. G Elizabeth Jones, Jr. F Bethany Schoenecker, So. G-F Adilyn Risley, So. G Melanie Verbridge.

Outlook: Six-foot center Rory Risley was named the ECC Division II tournament Most Valuable Player last season as the Bears defeated Windham for the championship at Mohegan Sun Arena, with Stonington finishing the season 13-12 after starting 2-8. Risley had 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the title game, but will be missing a good deal of her supporting cast from last season, as the Bears will try to compete in the division and reach the postseason once again.

(ECC Division III also includes Plainfield and Windham)

ECC Division IV

Lyman Memorial

Coach: David Lopez (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Kelsey Dunnack, Sr. G Aniela Piaseczny, Jr. G Jenny Lopez, Jr. F Phoebe Carpenter, Jr. F Juliana Haynes, So. F Ayanna Dillman.

Top newcomers: So. G Emelia Heinzman, Fr. G Makayla Pisaeczny.

Outlook: Jenny Lopez, the point guard, and Carpenter were ECC Division IV all-stars last year as the Bulldogs finished 16-8 overall, 8-0 to wrap up the division title and reached the semifinals of the ECC Division II tournament. That experience will help temper the loss of seniors Taylor Pankowski (ECC honorable mention) and Kassidy LaTour. David Lopez cites Lyman’s difficult schedule this season, which includes a crossover game against ECC Division I champion NFA.

St. Bernard

Coach: Mike Nystrom (41st season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Angelica Tompkins, Jr. G Madison Scribner, So. C Morgan Kuhn, So. G Gemma Tonucci.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Valentina Gjonbalaj, Jr. G Katie Scribner, So. F Zanfina Gjonbalaj, So. F Vanessa Cola.

Outlook: The Saints (11-11, 6-2) are small but quick, having graduated forwards Allysa Lazarou and Leah Egan. Also, they lack experience, but Nystrom predicts they will get better as they become more seasoned. Returning is Tompkins, a Class S all-state pick, ECC Division IV all-star and 1,000-point scorer, who should help make the transition easier with her distinctive spark on offense.

Wheeler

Coach: Vanessa Kobyluck (3rd season)

Key returnees: Jr. G Hayden Bresnan, Jr. G Abby Butremovic, Jr. G Lauren Glaza, So. F Morgyn Perkins, So. C Zoe Browne.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Ayva Hasse, Fr. G Paiten Kenny.

Outlook: The challenge for Kobyluck this season at Wheeler: Get the Lions in contention for the division title even with a young roster which features no seniors. Kobyluck believes the team’s strong guard presence and shooting capability will lead to Wheeler’s continued growth. The Lions (7-14, 2-6) graduated ECC all-star Marissa Perkins but Butremovic was an honorable mention pick.

(ECC Division IV also includes Putnam and Tourtellotte)

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Jeff Duda (13th season)

Key returnees: Jr. G Melanie Hernandez, Jr. G A’zarria Darden, So. F GiGi Colon.

Outlook: The Eagles graduated guard Sophie Byrne, who was an All-Connecticut Technical Conference Charter Oak Division pick last year, but they return three starters from a team which went 6-11 during the regular season to qualify for the Class M state tournament. “We hope to to build on last year’s success by again qualifying for the state tournament,” Duda said.

Norwich Tech

Coach: Pam Pinch (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Hannah Ross, Jr. G Autumn Hanks, Jr. G Olivia Luurtsema, Jr. F-C Abigail Ulrich, So. F-C Diana Kozerfefski.

Outlook: In addition to returning five players from last year’s team, which went 8-12 in the regular season and qualified for the Class M state tournament, Pinch’s team has several freshmen that she hopes will contribute right away, adding depth for the Warriors. Pinch is looking for the team to improve as the freshmen gain experience. “The returners will lead this team and we are hoping to compete in the CTC,” Pinch said. “We are looking forward to the challenge of several ECC small school matchups on our schedule.”

Old Lyme

Coach: Don Bugbee (25th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Ava Roth, Sr. G Grace Zembruski, Jr. F Abby Griffith, Jr. G Olivia Kelly, Jr. F Abby O’Brien, Jr. G Kanon Oharu, So. F Sybil Neary.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Mia Bonatti, Fr. G Alli Krol, Fr. G Grace Osborne, Fr. G Kaylyn Vernon.

Outlook: Old Lyme returns its entire team from a year ago, in addition to Kelly, who missed the season with an ACL injury. Bugbee calls this “year two of a major rebuild of the program,” with the Wildcats finishing 1-19 last season, but the coach says that the freshmen have been contributing in practice and serve to balance out the rest of the team. Old Lyme competes in the Shoreline Conference Small Division.

Williams

Coach: Connor Hart (2nd season)

Key returnees: So. G Ally Lacobellis, So. G Kalra Simplice.

Top newcomers: Fr. F Kiki Poulard, 8th-grade Catalina Georgia Van Berkle, 7th-grade F Anne Gingras, 7th-grade C Elle Reid.

Outlook: A young Williams School team is 0-1 thus far with a season-opening loss to Christian Heritage. Reid was the leading scorer in that game with 10 points and Van Berkel added six. The Lady Blues were 0-12 last season.