Hamden Defeats Crosstown Sacred Heart To Win Girls Hoops Crown

UNCASVILLE, CT — In a battle of high schools located in Hamden, it was the Green Dragons of Hamden High School that came out on top against crosstown rival Sacred Heart Academy, 46-40.

With both schools carrying with them recent championship pedigrees, Hamden led for most of the game, but couldn't put Sacred Heart away until late.

The knockout blow was more of a flurry of free throws and tight defense, and the Sharks never recovered.

Sacred Heart has won three titles, the last in 2022, and Hamden won its only championship a year ago.

Hamden coach Amanda Forcucci reflected on a rivalry she said developed with Sacred Heart with the onset of recent success since Jason Kirck took over leading the Sharks.

"I think it became a rivalry when Kirck got there. They go better and better," Forcucci said. "I think it's great for girls basketball."

Hamden was led by the calm, cool leadership of senior point guard Alana Philpotts, who took home the most outstanding player honors by scoring 14 points with 7 rebounds.

But Forcucci said it was her demeanor under the bright lights of the Mohegan Sun Arena that kept her team calm and full speed ahead to a title.

"That's how you want your point guard to be," Forcucci said. "She's got to be cool, calm and collected."

The top-ranked Sharks entered Sunday's game with a 22-1 record, including the tournament, and Hamden boasted a 20-3 record in all games.

In the first quarter, Hamden penetrated and attacked Sacred Heart in the paint, earning points from the field and the free-throw line.

That combined with some stiff Green Dragon defense helped put Hamden up 13-6 over the Sharks after one quarter.

Hamden methodically increased its lead through most of the second quarter and the Dragons ran into halftime up 10, 23-13.

Sacred Heart, however, forced Hamden to call a timeout a little more than two minutes into the third quarter after a three-pointer, a steal, and then a layup cut a 10-point lead in half to 25-20 Hamden.

The TO worked and Hamden reciprocated with a deuce and a trey by Philpotts to go back up 10, 30-20.

Sacred Heart plugged away, however, and the third quarter ended with a basket by junior Lyla D'Errico, who helped the Sharks cut the lead to five to make it 33-28 Hamden.

The quarter gave a bit of momentum to Sacred Heart going into the final part of the game.

But after Sacred Heart got within two, Philpotts steadied the ship with heady point guard play and hit a circus two to put the Dragons 39-33, then she hit a free throw to make it 40-33.

The Sharks quickly struck back with a few minutes left, cutting the lead to three with two minutes to go.

A three-pointer by Sacred Heart senior Meghan Kirck then turned a six-point deficit into a three-point deficit with a minute left. It was Hamden 43, Sacred Heart 40.

Ultimately, Hamden hit just enough free throws to finish Sacred Heart's gutsy effort and claim yet another championship for a successful program.

For game statistics and a wrap-up, click on this link.