Somers Snares First Girls Basketball State Title In Nearly 5 Decades

UNCASVILLE, CT — Moments after her team clinched the CIAC Class S girls basketball championship Sunday afternoon, Somers sophomore Maya Skalski, voted Most Outstanding Player, admitted, "Lacrosse is my main sport."

She must be one incredible player on the lacrosse field, because she dominated second-seeded Thomaston on the hardwood court at Mohegan Sun Arena, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in leading the Spartans to a 56-43 win for the program's second overall state title, and first since 1977.

"No matter what the score is, I always have to keep my mind straight," Skalski said. "If you make a mistake, you always have to keep your composure, especially in such a big game."

Somers actually trailed 11-10 at the end of the first quarter, but outscored the Golden Bears 14-6 in the second quarter to assume a 24-17 halftime advantage, then extended the lead to 11 midway through the third period. Undaunted, an experienced Thomaston squad, led by three seniors from the 2022 state championship team, chipped away to trim the deficit to 36-35 heading into the final eight minutes.

Thomaston actually tied the score twice in the final quarter, but two straight hoops by Skalski with just under four minutes remaining pushed the Spartans back in front for good. The Golden Bears got back within two with 3:15 left, but Somers sealed the crown with a final 13-2 run.

Fellow senior Eliana Wood and junior Sydney Cassidy both played major roles in the Spartan championship, scoring 16 points each. Cassidy snared 12 rebounds, while Wood contributed 10, including six off the offensive glass.

Ava Harkness and Nicole Decker had 16 and 13 points, respectively, for Thomaston.