High school semis on TV at 7 on CPTVSports

[Blakeon18]

Class L semifinal game: Capital Prep against Farmington.

CP a national top 20 team with senior Kiah Gillespie...just named Gatorade state POY [Maryland next year]...
on the All-star team playing on April 1 on TV...same game for our 3 incoming....junior Elmore [verbal to Syracuse].

Farmington is 26-0. Given how CP has crushed all state teams my bet is the under/over margin is 30 on this one. I did see CP last year on TV in the finals against Weaver and they trailed at the half and won by a modest 15 or so. I wasn't all that impressed with Kiah but her numbers this year have been great...against local teams and against out of state competition.

 

[2Infinity]

After having seen both teams play several times this season, I'm thinking that this will be more than just another "high school semi" game tonight. This has the potential to be the game of the year in CT girls hs bb this season. Yes, Capital Prep has destroyed every CT team they've played this season, including the very hyped Mercy team. However, CP hasn't faced a team, at least in-state, that can score like Farmington can. The Indians have also shown an ability to limit the scoring of other high octane offenses, with the exception of one Northwest Catholic game. Certainly CP plays very solid defense as well, holding many teams well below their scoring averages, so Farmington will certainly have a challenge on it's hands. But they have several scoring weapons, something most teams don't have! So while it's entirely possible that CP could assert itself at both ends as the game goes on and end up winning by 30, I'd be very surprised if that happened.

The three star players in this game are enough reason alone to want to watch this game. K. Gillespie and D. Elmore are both great players, but Hannah Friend is right there as another top five player in the state. If she has her typical game of 25+, Farmington could make this quite a game. It's worth tuning in if you can, especially since seats will be tough to come by at Bristol Central. Capacity is around 1,700 and the CIAC is anticipating as many as 2,500+ hoping to get in.

 

[SportsPageMike]

If not for a cancelled game for Capital Prep this game should be played at the Mohegan Sun instead of at Bristol Central. I have photographed the Farmington women for three years now. They have a very good starting five. Hannah Friend is playing ball next year at Delaware. Trust me here but Hannah is not a Friend with how she plays in your face defense. She will play the whole game that way. Sophie Borg is playing at Union. The only bad thing that I can say is that their bench is not that strong. However, they do have players to come in for the starters so they can get some rest. This game will not be a blow out by no means.

 

[2Infinity]

I think the game will come down to how well Friend defends Gillespie. I agree with you Mike that HF is an outstanding defender and think she could make things uncomfortable for KG. I was at the CCC tournament and saw Friend hold K. Brooks of Bristol Eastern to just 11 points. Brooks was one of the highest scorers in the conference and is going to Marshall next year. Farmington runs real well...so how well the Trailblazers can stop the break will be a big factor in determining the final score. Should be a closer game than many expect.

 

[SportsPageMike]

Sadly turnovers cost Farmington tonight. They were down 20 at the half. Then mounted a comeback. Down six with a couple of minutes to play and the ball. Saunders takes a three-point shot that bounced off the rim. If that shot goes in its a whole new game. CP played well. Farmington played Farmington ball in the second half but still turned the ball over way to often. Final was CP 69 to 61. In all honesty the best player on the floor tonight was Hannah Friend. KG wasn't a factor at all just like she wasn't in the finals last year at Mohegan. The young lady going to Cuse played very good. As I said Farmington has no bench and that hurt this evening. Great game. Would love to see the best 2-out of-3.

 

[Blakeon18]

Much closer than I expected. The morning paper said that Gillespie was sub-par healthwise...that may have affected
her performance which was also sub-par.

State finals coming up!

 

[SportsPageMike]

If anyone is interested here is my photo gallery of the game. I'm sorry if its a little one-sided but I do cover Farmington sports.

CIAC Girls Basketball - Class L State Tournament SF's - #1 Farmington 61 vs. #4 Capital Prep 69

By Mike D'Avino
March 14, 2015

http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/c...ll---class-l-state-tournament-s-2.shtml?62343