Sports

Berlin Girls Shake Off Jitters for First Round Win

Will play Hand of Madison Wednesday night in second round.

The last time the Berlin girls basketball team took the court the Redcoats turned the ball over 37 times and got whipped by 30 points. 

So it would be normal to think they would have some nerves entering the first round game of the CIAC Tournament. Those nerves were evident as Berlin struggled early but in the end, the Redcoats made enough shots to beat Lyman Hall 56-40.

With the win, Berlin moves onto the second round to take on Hand of Madison, an upset winner over Berlin league foe Bristol Eastern.

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"Tonight I think we had some jitters and I don't think we shot the ball well at all," Berlin coach Sheila King said. "I don't think Alyssa (Barrett) shot the ball well until the third period. We'll have to do a better job if we want to win the next one."

Berlin knew it would have a size advantage and took control from the inside out, thanks to the play of Monique St. Jarre and Jess Szczepanik. 

Find out what's happening in Berlinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We knew we were bigger inside and I think we were stronger too," King said. "Mo gave us a big boost. We told her we needed her to get the job done on the boards and I think she did a pretty good job."

Berlin led 10-5 after the first quarter but Lyman tied it at 16-all with 1:54 left in the first half on a circus-like layup by Hall's Felicia Ferraro. A Barrett three and a putback by St. Jarre gave Berlin a 21-16 lead at the half.

"We told them at halftime we needed to slow down and play with more consistency," King said. "We were going 101 percent and probably only needed 100 percent. We were flying all the over the place and turning it over way too much. We stressed playing under control and getting the ball inside before the game and again at halftime."

The teams traded hoops to start the first quarter but an 8-0 run gave Berlin a 31-22 lead midway through the third quarter. 

Jess Szczepanik, who had two fouls in the first half and did not play much, scored two hoops during the run.

A late Barrett three gave Berlin a 37-25 lead going into the final quarter.

The lead grew as large as 18 in the final quarter and could have been bigger if the Redcoats had not shot just 15-of-30 from the free throw line for the game.

St. Jarre and Barrett led Berlin with 13 points while Ashley Malloy added 11 points and Szczepanik chipped in with 10 points. 

King was happy Hand knocked off Bristol Eastern, a team Berlin had split two meetings with during the regular season.

"I'd rather play someone I don't know," she said. "Hand has a lot of size inside so they will be tough but Any time you play a team three times, it's too much. The seniors will need to do an even better job than they did tonight because one bad game and their careers are over."

Berlin will play host to the second round game against Hand Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. 


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